A fifth booking of the season for Bradley Dack has cost him a place in the Gills team this weekend.

The automatic ban kicks in on Saturday for the FA Cup first round match at Stevenage.

Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh said: “It won’t be a bad thing for him to have a breather.
“He has played a lot of games and probably never this amount before.

“His name has been one of the first on the teamsheet and it will give him the opportunity to have a little breather, ready to go for another busy couple of months coming up.

“I doubt if I would have rested him (if given the choice) but it’s given him a breather.”

Fellow midfielder Josh Wright will also be out of action through suspension this weekend.

Permission will need to be obtained from Chelsea and Charlton for loanees Jordan Houghton and Harry Lennon to play in the FA Cup.

Doug Loft and Cody McDonald, who have recently returned from injury, both came through last weekend’s game at the Bescot in good condition.