Gillingham have postponed their Boxing Day match with Ipswich Town.

The Gills remain short of players after Covid hit the squad before the weekend, which also led to them calling off Saturday’s game with Crewe. The Ipswich match has been rearranged for Saturday, January 8 (3pm).

The EFL say that clubs need to have 14 players fit and available, anything less than that and games can be called off because of Covid.

Gillingham had just seven outfield players in training on Tuesday and two goalkeepers.

In a brief statement, Gills said: "We informed the EFL that we would be unable to fulfil the fixture at MEMS Priestfield Stadium due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in the squad."

Their squad is already short because a number of players are recovering from injury.

Six players were isolating because of positive Covid tests and another was awaiting a PCR result. None of those players are expected to be back in time to be fit to face Ipswich Town.

Two of the coaching team are also understood to have had positive tests while Gillingham also had a number of matchday staff unable to make the Boxing Day game.

Both clubs are free to play the match on January 8 as it's FA Cup weekend and neither are still involved. Gills' scheduled opponents Shrewsbury are up against Liverpool. Ipswich lost to Barrow.

Gillingham's next scheduled match is a trip to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, December 29.