BIG MONEY MAN:

Carl Asaba: Striker Asaba (27) cost the Gills £600,000 from Reading in August,1998. He scored 20 League goals in his first season before an injury-plagued campaign last time. Although his value may have soared he will be a free agent in the summer.

LAST SIX RESULTS

Bournemouth (A, FAC) won 2-3

Hope, Hessenthaler, Shaw

Portsmouth (A) drew 0-0

Crystal Palace (H) won 4-1

Asaba 3, Onuora

Stockport (A) drew 2-2

Lewis, King

Preston (H) won 4-0

Asaba 2, Ashby, King

Norwich (A) lost 1-0

SEASON SO FAR

The Gills have made a pretty decent fist of trying to establish themselves in Division One, although remain eight points worse off than Burnley. Their recent form is good, however, with eight goals in their last two home games and no defeats in five games.

MANAGER

Andy Hessenthaler: Pocket dynamo Hessenthaler has risen to the challenge of becoming player-manager in succession to Peter Taylor. The former Watford man has guided his side into mid-table and also been a key performer in the middle of the park. However, a badly cut knee at Bournemouth last Saturday is set to keep him out for a month.

PREDICTED LINE-UP

The Gills are set to show three changes from the side that won at Bournemouth in the cup. Andy Hessenthaler and Guy Butters are injured and could be replaced by Mark Saunders and Barry Ashby. And Carl Asaba is expected to return after injury.

LEADING SCORER

Carl Asaba: Asaba has had his injury problems again this season but has hit a rich vein of form lately. He has scored five times in his last two outings at the Priestfield Stadium to help him to 11 goals in total.

ONE TO WATCH

Paul Shaw: Former Burnley loan signing Paul Shaw joined Gillingham from Millwall in the summer. His campaign has been disrupted by a knee injury bit he is a lively customer around the box and the ex-Arsenal front man is in form having bagged the Gill's cup winner last Saturday.

DID YOU KNOW

The Gills will be holding their breath over a file compiled on the club regarding allegations of financial irregularities. Further details could emerge in a Sunday newspaper before the FA is invited to investigate.