Notts County to hold pitch inspection on Saturday morning ahead of Gillingham’s scheduled visit the following day

A preliminary pitch inspection is planned ahead of Gillingham’s weekend match at Notts County.

The Gills are due to take on Notts at Meadow Lane on Sunday, with both sides looking to bounce back from New Year’s Day defeats.

The League 2 match on Sunday is due to kick off at 3pm but a pitch inspection will take place on Saturday morning to see how well the frost covers are working.

A statement from the club said: “With freezing temperatures forecast both tonight and tomorrow night, the Meadow Lane playing surface was covered immediately after Thursday's home fixture against Accrington Stanley.

“We are hopeful that the frost sheets, with milder air trapped underneath, will provide sufficient protection from the elements but, following conversations with the EFL, believe it would be sensible to conduct an initial assessment of the surface on Saturday morning to ascertain the impact of tonight's temperatures.”

Notts have undersoil heating installed, but don’t have it connected to a heat source.

Temperatures will drop to around -2c overnight on Friday ahead of another frost on Saturday night.

The Gills are currently without a win in nine games and are actively seeking new recruits in the transfer market.

Gillingham don’t have a game the following weekend as the home match with MK Dons has already been postponed due to their opponents being involved in the FA Cup.

Newport County are the visitors to Priestfield on Saturday, January 17.