Gareth Ainsworth is expecting to have one or two players back available for selection when Gillingham host Barrow at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Barrow come into the game off the back of a managerial change, following their midweek defeat. Neil McDonald will take charge of the fixture, altering Ainsworth's preparations ahead of Saturday.
The Gills boss provided an injury update heading into the Christmas period, which included positive news about Conor Masterson, Euan Williams and Jonny Smith.
Saturday will be Richard Dobson's 700th game in the dugout, and Ainsworth commended his long-time assistant for the incredible work he has done throughout his career.
Preparing for Barrow...
[On their midweek managerial change]- It changes the picture. I am glad that they did it yesterday [Wednesday] and not today ]Thursday], because it gave us a chance to delete most of the presentation that we had put together, saying that this is what they had been doing and how their manager likes to play. That happens. It is football management, and I wish Whingy [Andy Whing] all of the best in his next venture.
Neil McDonald is very experienced, so we are sort of guessing about what is coming, but it is all about us. I told the boys today that it is all about what we do now, and it is one of the few games in the season where I won't be able to analyse too much or see patterns of play, because it is going to be new.
Injury updates heading into the festive period...
One or two of those are not going to be in the stand on Saturday; they are going to be on the bench and in the team. I am hoping that we can get our strongest squad back for this Christmas period, because it is a testing time over Christmas.
We have this one and go up to Fleetwood next Saturday, and then, wow, the four games in 11 days is going to be a real test. I am going to need everybody, and it is looking like everybody will be just about back.
Conor Masterson was on the grass today, and Euan Williams trained today. This is good for us to get these players back. One or two will still be missing, but Jonny Smith was out there. It is really good and exciting that we are getting these players back now.
On Richard Dobson's 700th game in the dugout as an assistant manager and their relationship...
Anyone who does 100 games in the dugout has done well, never mind 700, so for him to be alongside me for about 630 or 640, which I think I am on. He had a season and a bit before, and I was captain at Wycombe when Dobbo was promoted to assistant manager for Gary Waddock. That season was a tough season in League One, but it was great to see him in action. When I got the job, there were no questions about keeping him, so there were definitely glimpses of what he was and what he could become.
Over the years, he has become a fantastic number two. Being a number two is so different to being a number one, it really is. There should be courses in being a number two, because he could run it. Not being in the limelight is one thing, but picking up the pieces and also he will watch me as much as he watches the opposition, and he will watch me on the touchline at times and will know what I need. He is probably the closest thing to me other than my wife!
He can properly read me and knows what I am thinking, and he also knows when to push and when to hold back. The one thing that Dobbo has never done is say, 'I told you so,' or 'we should have done that.' He gets on with the decision that we make as a group, and I will make the final decision because that is my job, but he always believes in that 100% and will go for it.
Trust is a word in football that is used a lot, but whether it is done a lot, I am not sure. It is definitely done by Richard Dobson. I can trust him with everything that I have got. I think that together, we have forged this culture and way of doing things, and it is great to see people coming in and doing it. Congratulations, Dobbo, 700 is some achievement, and I am sure there are plenty more to come, and I hope that there is plenty more to come, especially at Gillingham.
