Skipper Max Ehmer is doubtful for Gillingham’s big game at Sunderland.

The defender dislocated his shoulder in Gills’ 2-1 defeat by AFC Wimbledon last weekend.

He’ll be given time to prove his fitness, but manager Steve Evans faces the possibility of being without his captain for the first time this season.

“He’s doubtful for the weekend but we’ll give him every opportunity,” said Evans.

“He’s not missed a minute apart from when he came off on Saturday but he’s had this little thing ongoing for the last couple of years.

“He had it a week or so before we played at Tranmere earlier in the season. We’re hopeful it’s not too serious but it’s fair to say he’s doubtful.”

Ehmer will be desperate to play, an attitude that sums up the environment at Priestfield.

“We’re fortunate,” added Evans. “We’ve got Ehmer and I could look at Connor Ogilvie, Ollie Lee, Jack Bonham.

“These lads have played when perhaps people at other clubs wouldn’t have played but we’ve got a brilliant dressing room with brilliant characters and what they're achieving is incredible.”

Jordan Roberts, Jordan Graham and Ben Pringle came through a behind-closed-doors friendly at Stevenage on Tuesday and are in contention for Sunderland.

Evans said: “It was a good, competitive game played primarily between two sides that contained a mixture of first-team and academy players.

“We wanted to see Jordan Roberts back in action because he was suffering from a badly bruised shoulder last week.

“He came through 70 minutes, Jordan Graham did, Ben Pringle did, so the lads who were on the bench last weekend got the opportunity to play and it tunes them up nicely to be in contention for Saturday."

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