DESPITE having doubts across his midfield Town boss Mark Cooper is remaining calm ahead of the visit of Gillingham.

Louis Thompson, Anton Rodgers and Jack Stephens are all certain to miss out tonight against the Kent side, through injury and, in Stephens’ case, suspension.

It leaves Massimo Luongo, Yaser Kasim, Ben Gladwin and John Swift as Town’s remaining fit midfielders, though Gladwin is also carrying a knock.

Stephens will return on Saturday, but Thompson and Rodgers are projected for longer spells on the sidelines.

Against Gillingham the absentees appear to have forced Cooper’s hand in lining up his midfield with attacking intent, as well giving bench spots to a couple of youngsters from the under 18s.

“Anton Rodgers fractured his wrist last week in training so he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Cooper told the local media.

“Obviously Jack Stephens is suspended so we’ve got one or two issues in terms of having the required numbers to put a squad out tomorrow.

“(Ben Gladwin) a little bit stiff, he’s ricked his neck one way so he’s having a bit of treatment this morning and we’ll see how he is.

“I’m sure there will be one or two youngsters involved.”

Despite Cooper having to delve into the limits of the squad he will not be bringing in any emergency reinforcements.

“We’ve got Ben Gladwin, who would class himself as a midfield player, Jack Stephens, Massimo (Luongo), Yaser (Kasim), (John) Swift – there’s five for three,” he added.

“We get Jack back (from suspension) on Saturday so, from the boys who have been starting, it’s only really Louis who we’ll miss.”