GILLINGHAM'S Mark Saunders is favourite to start Saturday's match at Crewe ahead of David Perpetuini who is also in contention.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler must decide on his replacement as a one-match suspension keeps him out of the side at Gresty Road. The rest of the team is likely to be unchanged.

Gills have taken four points from their last six games and Hessenthaler has stressed the need for consistency. He said: “We need to go on an unbeaten run of games if we’re to move on up the table.

“Christmas is an important time for all clubs and a good time to get plenty of points under the belt what with so many games coming up.”

Meanwhile, reserve goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu has been told to stay away from the club after going down with a strain of Chinese flu.

Hessenthaler and coach Wayne Jones watched Birmingham City Reserves’ 3-1 win over Leeds on Wednesday night in search of a striker the club can afford to sign on loan.

Most likely target is City’s 19-year-old striker and second year professional Andrew Barrowman who has just returned from a four-match spell on loan with Crewe.

While Barrowman failed to impress on the night, the performance of young winger Carl Motteram caught Hessenthaler’s eye after scoring twice.

United States international and former Crystal Palace playmaker Jovan Kirovski is also available on loan, as is Stern John, who earns an estimated £8,000 a week and would be too rich for Gillingham - unless City help pay his wages.

Hessenthaler stressed he will not be rushed into a making a signing for the sake of it and will probably wait until the New Year when he loses Mali international striker Mamady Sidibe to the African Nations Cup for three weeks before making a move.

Gillingham must also do without injury-plagued striker Rod Wallace for up to six weeks after he damaged ankle ligaments in the 2-2 draw at Coventry on November 22.