GILLS will face Millwall in Sunday's televised clash without striker Iffy Onuora. His mother died on March 1 from lung cancer and the big striker will travel back to Nigeria for her funeral.

Onuora is expected to return to action against Walsall on Saturday week. Manager Andy Hessenthaler paid tribute to Onuora, who has played on through difficult times.

He said: "It's sad and it's been going on for a week or so now for poor old Iffy. He has had that on his mind and to be fair he has done fantastically and took his goal ever so well on Tuesday night.

"You have got to give the lad a lot of credit for how he has coped with what's been going on in his life at the moment. Iffy will be away for the next week or so and then back for the Walsall game. We will have to wait and see then how he is feeling in himself. Our warmest wishes are with Iffy for the next week or so."

Midfielder Simon Osborn is back in full training but Roland Edge is a doubt. He picked up a back injury against Forest and missed the midweek defeat against Norwich. David Perpetuini will continue at left back if Edge fails to recover.

*Keeper Jason Brown has been invited to train with the Wales Under-21 squad after impressing in his four appearances this season. Brown will now join up with James Shoulder's Welsh Under 21 side and train with the squad as they prepare for the UEFA Under-21 European Championship.

Wales are in Group Nine with Italy, Yugoslavia, Finland and Azerbaijan.

*Former Gills midfielder Neil Smith has been told he is free to leave Reading and look for a new club.

Smith, who is out of contract in the summer, is not part of manager Alan Pardew's plans and can leave as soon as he finds another interested party.