SWINDON Town head coach Luke Williams may have to think outside the box to concoct the perfect formula for a potent attack as his team travel to Gillingham tonight.

During Town’s 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield on Saturday, recent signing Luke Norris was on the receiving end of a crunching challenge from the hosts’ Sam Hird and was forced off with an ankle injury.

Joining Jonathan Obika on the sidelines, the 23-year-old, signed from Gillingham for a reported fee in the region of £150,000, looks set to miss out on a quick reunion with his former employers when Williams’ men head to Priestfield tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Jermaine Hylton is now likely to provide Swindon’s only recognised centre-forward option, although Jordan Stewart and John Goddard have recently operated in advanced areas whilst midfielder Michael Doughty was pushed furthest forward during an encounter with Bradford City last season.

The onus will be on Williams to construct a system that will provide the promotion-chasing Gills with a few headaches and the County Ground chief has lamented the loss of Norris.

“He has turned his ankle so we won’t know until the ligaments in the ankle have been examined more closely – probably, there will be a period of trying to get the swelling down,” Williams told BBC Wiltshire.

“It’s very unfortunate obviously, with Jon Obika still being out as well. I would be amazed if he (Norris) would be available for selection on Tuesday.”

Williams also says that his attacking conundrum is further complicated by the pacy Hylton’s lack of comfort playing as a lone frontman.

The Town boss added: “It’s very difficult because Jermaine works so much better with a physical presence at the very top of the pitch to enable him to work off of that.

“It’s very difficult for him to play at the very top on his own. I think the best chance he has to be able to do that is to use his pace in order to try to be able to get behind the line.”