Gillingham made a late call on Saturday to their team selection which meant Bradley Dack was left out of the squad.

Dack was initially named as a substitute for the trip to Doncaster Rovers - having played 45 minutes in the midweek EFL Trophy match against Peterborough - but it was decided to leave him out altogether because of fears over an injury.

That 45 minutes in the week had led to a slight hamstring issue and the Gills didn’t want to take any risks with their star summer signing.

Dack was replaced on the bench by Joe Gbode, who had made the trip north with the rest of the squad.

Bonner said: “A lot of the boys hadn’t done so much since Tuesday and we gave them as long as possible.

“Joe was out warming up and everything and (Dack) couldn’t shake it off so better to give it a little longer.

“It has taken a little while to settle down but hopefully there is nothing more than that and he can get on the grass again (this) week.”

Dack was one of several to become available for the first time last week, with Ethan Coleman and Elliott Nevitt now fit and free to play. Josh Andrews has also recently returned from injury.

It’s a boost for Bonner who was without Robbie McKenzie at the weekend - the match winner from the previous week against Chesterfield.

Bonner said: “I think everyone is having a few (injuries) at the minute and we certainly are.

“We had four extra players back, along with Dack, really good ones that you want to write on the teamsheet but Robbie had an issue with his quad off the back of last week, and that happens the week Max Ehmer is suspended and Euan Williams is away (on international duty).

“The timing of things you can’t choose, you just have to get on with it.

“There are lots of contributing reasons for lots of things but in the end you have to go: ‘This is what it is’ and players have got the shirt, they have to deliver, they have to be good and we have to keep pushing them to be better.

“I liked the effort [on Saturday] but at times the personality was lacking and the quality wasn’t quite there in the moments we needed it to be. We have to find a way around that.

“We will have a few options when the [injured players are] back out - but it is what it is at the moment.”