A midweek EFL Trophy match is a game Gillingham manager Neil Harris could do without.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-21 side head to Priestfield for Gills’ second group stage match of the competition but, with injuries mounting up, Harris will just be hoping the players he names tonight (Tuesday) come through unscathed.

“We could really do without a cup competition on Tuesday night, we are really light," said the Gills boss, speaking after Saturday’s league win over Sutton.

“I want to win every game but I go back to what is that competition all about? Seriously. You have smaller budgets and smaller squads and you have got to play more games than everyone else. They are pointless to me.”

Harris lost winger Jordan Green to injury on Saturday and has captain Stuart O’Keefe also sidelined with a hamstring problem. Olly Lee hasn’t seen action for weeks but fellow midfielder Dom Jefferies is close. He could be involved again tonight.

Portsmouth loanee Haji Mnoga will hope to see some action after a tough start to his Gills spell - he's been an unused substitute in the last two games - while forward Lewis Walker will be hoping to continue where he left off on Saturday after making a decent impact off the bench. Young striker Joe Gbode, back-up keeper Joe Turner and newly signed Josh Chambers could all get a run-out.

Left-back David Tutonda has dropped off the radar in recent weeks and could also feature.

Harris’ focus will be on Saturday’s League 2 trip to Crewe, however.

“I have got to focus on Crewe,” he said. “I have no players. I will try not to disrespect the competition, to make sure we don’t get fined (for fielding a ‘weakened’ team).”

Gillingham lost 3-0 at Charlton in their opening game of the competition and will round off their group stage commitments with a home match against Colchester United next Tuesday, the two Trophy games scheduled either side of that match at Crewe.

Green’s injury was a concern for the Gills, lasting 45 minutes despite being caught by a tackle early on against Sutton on Saturday.

Harris said: “It wasn’t a malicious tackle, I thought it was a dangerous tackle in the modern game, he wrapped his legs around him and it is his ankle.” There is no word yet from the club over the seriousness of the injury although there were fears of ligament damage.

Ben Reeves is also missing, with a muscle injury.

“Him and O’Keefe are going to be missing for a period,” said the Gills boss. “We have no Stuart, no Olly Lee, Dom Jefferies is back on the grass so we would like to welcome him back into the group quickly, hopefully for Tuesday night.”

Up until recently, Brighton’s under-21 side were managed by former Gills captain and homegrown favourite Andrew Crofts but he has been promoted following the appointment of new manager Roberto de Zerbi.

Crofts was briefly first-team boss at Brighton on an interim basis - for just nine days - as they looked to replace Graham Potter, who left for Chelsea, but the club were quick to appoint Italian De Zerbi.

Postponed games after the Queen’s death meant Crofts never got to manage the first-team in a competitive match. With him stepping up to assist the new management team, Shannon Ruth has taken over as under-21 boss.

Brighton’s under-21s were beaten 2-1 by Colchester in their opening game of the competition.

Tonight's game kicks off at 7pm as the club look to entice young fans to the fixture.