Gillingham bring striker Joe Gbode back from loan spell at Aveley as cover after illness to Oli Hawkins and injuries to Dom Jefferies, Jorge Hurtado and George Lapslie

Gillingham have recalled young striker Joe Gbode from a loan spell after being hit by injuries.

Gbode was playing for National South side Aveley but was recalled this week after the Gills were reduced to the bare bones.

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Striker Oli Hawkins has looked set to miss Tuesday night’s game against Stockport County through illness and head coach Stephen Clemence was counting on Gbode to ensure they had a full squad for the match.

Gbode wasn’t needed in the end as Hawkins made himself available.

The Gills also included captain Shaun Williams in their 18-man squad - he hasn’t played a league game under Clemence - while Jayden Clarke made his first start since mid-December.

Clemence said: “We brought Joe Gbode back from his loan move because we really thought Oli wasn’t going to be right.

“We are down to having all of our senior professionals involved and if we lose anyone else we will be looking to use B Team players.

“We’ve had a number of injuries recently. I am not here to make excuses, I think when an injury happens it is an opportunity for somebody else, but Hawks has been ill since after the game at the weekend and on Monday I didn’t think he would even be on the bench.

“Oli declared that he wanted to have a go, he didn’t think he was ready to start the game because he hadn’t eaten much and he had the shivers and the shakes, but fair play to him for coming in and giving us 35 minutes.

“We have had that and we also lost Jorge Hurtado (knee) and George Lapslie has a slight hamstring and we have lost Dom Jefferies (thigh) and these are all players that if they are not starters then they are very close to starting a game and in my thoughts every weekend.”

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