Jackson will be a big miss for Gills

FANS are likely to get attractive odds on there being a glut of goals at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.

Athletic, tight at the back on the road this year with a mere five goals conceded — including three consecutive clean sheets — will be without six-goal top scorer Pawel Abbott, absent following surgery to repair a hernia.

Gillingham have let in only five at home and while they have not had much of a struggle hitting the net on familiar turf, they will also be without their primary marksman when welcoming Dave Penney's men.

Striker Simeon Jackson, who has 11 goals to his name this season, will miss the Coca-Cola League One fixture after being called up to the Canada squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Macedonia and Poland.

The 22-year-old was born in Jamaica but raised in Canada until the age of 15, making his international debut in May of this year against Cyprus. He has six caps to his name.

Gills manager Mark Stimson is likely to turn to old war horse Mark McCammon when it comes to selecting Jackson's replacement up front.

The 31-year-old came on for the last 20 minutes of the 3-0 home FA Cup win over Southend on Saturday.

And he could start the game in a little-and-large combination with Febian Brandy.

The diminutive on-loan Manchester United striker was man-of-the-match in the cup game, scoring one goal and creating the other two.

Gillingham right-back Barry Fuller will also be absent this weekend and Stimson may opt to switch Chris Palmer across to the opposite side of the field from left-back.

The Kent side gained promotion to League One last season through the play-offs after finishing fifth in League Two.

The Athletic link in their squad comes in the shape of Kevin Maher, who left Boundary Park to return south after making 32 appearances in midfield last season.