Match Previews

Preview | Gillingham v Hartlepool United

13th January

A number of new faces could feature for the very first time on Saturday as Gills prepare for a big game against Hartlepool at Priestfield.

Gillingham vs Hartlepool United

MEMS Priestfield Stadium

Sky Bet League Two

Saturday January 14^th

Kick-Off, 3pm

Team News:

Tom Nichols is in line to make his debut for the club after signing from Crawley at the end of 2022. Timothee Dieng, who joined the club from Exeter on Wednesday, could also make his Gills debut, having signed in time for Saturday.

Glenn Morris is available to start after re-joining the club on Thursday, while Oli Hawkins could be in line to feature in the matchday squad following his arrival from Mansfield for an undisclosed fee.

Lewis Walker will likely miss the game as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Elkan Baggott (ankle) and Dom Jefferies (knee) will require late fitness tests.

Mikael Mandron has left the club to join Motherwell.

Hartlepool signed Dan Dodds from Middlesbrough during the week, and he could be involved in the matchday squad. Peter Hartley will miss the game due to suspension, while Matt Dolan could make his Hartlepool debut.

Josh Umerah is in contention to feature on Saturday after he was substituted in The Pools’ FA Cup defeat to Stoke.

Manager Comments:

Neil Harris - "We need to focus on us and how we are going to improve. It's a huge game on Saturday.

"We know what to expect from a Keith Curle side.”

Keith Curle - “I know what we’ve got in place and I’ve identified a number of players that I think will be of value to us in the short-term."

Previous Meetings:

When the two sides met earlier in the season, the Gills came away from The Suit Direct Stadium with a point following a goalless draw.

The last meeting between the clubs at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium was also goalless in November 2018 in an FA Cup First Round tie.

Brandon Hanlan had Gillingham's best opportunity of the game as he came inches away from taking the lead seconds into the second half. Hanlan did well to get down the line and beyond a defender before playing the ball across the face of the goal. No one could get on the end of it as the ball went inches wide of the far post.