Gillingham lost more than just three points on Saturday after being dealt two major injury blows.
The Gills lost returning midfielder Armani Little just past the half-hour in the 3-0 home defeat to Walsall in League 2.
Armani Little and Liam Gordon watch from the stand after both went off injured in the first half on Saturday. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Within six minutes, new captain Liam Gordon was replaced on his debut after going down in his own penalty area.
Both players watched the second half from the Brian Moore Stand with Gordon wearing a knee brace and using crutches.
Asked about the early prognosis on Gordon, Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth stated: “I don’t know.
“It’s a knee injury, so we’ll have to see, but I would take a 3-0 defeat if Liam could be fit very quickly. I’d give all that up for that because he is one hell of a human being. He’s a top guy who leads from the back.
“I think we probably missed him in the last 17 minutes. I don’t think we concede those goals with him in the team, I really don’t.
“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it, how much luck we’ve had but we’ll go again.
“Armani going off, he’s last year’s skipper and you couldn’t write it.
“It’s just a jinx on me at the moment. It’s not great.”
It proved a tough day for Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth for more than one reason. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Little, who barely featured during pre-season for the Gills, came into the starting line-up alongside Zane Albarus.
He impressed in the opening half-hour but had to be replaced by Robbie McKenzie.
“I haven’t heard what he’s done,” claimed Ainsworth. “His is a muscular thing but it’s Liam that’s the big concern because that was a joint issue, so we’ll see where he is.
“There’ll be no news come out until we definitely know positively what he’s done, but it looks a nasty one.
“Somebody like that doesn’t walk off the pitch unless they really have to and it looked pretty sore when he came off.”
Ainsworth admitted that their transfer window moves were not likely to be concluded until the final day of the window last week.
But Gordon’s injury may force his hand sooner rather than later.
“We’ll see what happens,” added the Gills boss. “Knowing Liam, he’s probably ready to strap his knee up and get out there for next week, but we’ll have to go on the results of probably a scan or some tests on him.
“So, we’ll see where that is but we always fear the worst when somebody like that has to come off the pitch. Usually, they’ll scrap through anything.
“He’ll be as devastated as anyone about the result, but I’ll flip that and say I just want him to be okay.
The first-half injuries also had an impact during the 90 minutes, with Ainsworth using two of his three substitution windows.
It meant he had only one more chance to make any changes while Walsall used their substitutions to devastating effect.
New captain Liam Gordon had to be helped back to the dressing room after coming off injured in the first half. Picture: Barry Goodwin
“It’s huge because you look at trying to get subs on and they took advantage of the three opportunities in the second half,” said Ainsworth.
“They used one at half-time, so they used four, you know, but I’d used two by half-time and it’s really tough then.
“I thought about Cameron Antwi, he hasn’t played since February. I think there’s a game midweek that he’s going to get involved in and get some minutes up.
“Garath McCleary was a bit of a gamble as well, and I thought Ronan staying on would get something.
“Everyone will look at the scoreline and there’s never context to it, but the context is I’ve lost two of my biggest players in the first (half) and that’s tough.”