Gills skipper Doug Loft will be hoping to shake off a knee injury so he can face his former side this weekend.

Loft has missed Gillingham’s last two matches following a training ground injury sustained after a collision with team-mate Aaron Morris.

The midfielder played 174 league games for Port Vale and, if fit, Saturday’s visit will be the first time he has returned to the club since moving to the Gills in the summer.

The Gills, under the caretaker management of Andy Hessenthaler, are chasing a third straight League 1 away win.

Bradley Dack is another player hoping to overcome injury. He picked up a hamstring strain in the win at Colchester on Boxing Day and that kept him out of Gills’ defeat to Bristol City on Sunday.

Morris was rested for that game, having only just returned to action following a hamstring injury of his own, but should be fit again.

Injury-prone midfielder Amine Linganzi, meanwhile, suffered another hamstring strain in the Bristol game and is doubtful.

Hessenthaler - back in charge of the Gills for the third time - must decide whether to continue playing Taylor’s controversial five-man defensive system or be more attacking.

He will have one less defender at his disposal following

Harry Lennon’s return to Charlton.