Ipswich will be without suspended defender Luke Chambers for the Portman Road visit of Gillingham on Boxing Day.

Chambers returned to Sky Bet League One action in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth after almost a month out with a neck injury, only to be sent off late on at Fratton Park for two bookable offences.

Boss Paul Lambert will also be without a number of players through injury.

Winger Danny Rowe and striker Freddie Sears (both knee), along with defender Kane Vincent-Young (groin) and midfielder Jack Lankester (back) are all sidelined, while midfielder Teddy Bishop is close to a return after a long lay-off with a knee injury.

Gillingham boss Steve Evans has no fresh injury concerns for the game with the Tractor Boys.

It means Evans could name an unchanged line-up, and substitutes, for the third successive match, in particular given the impressive nature of his side’s 3-1 home win over MK Dons on Saturday.

Evans knows he has players champing at the bit to make an appearance but with a settled side, and with the Gills on a good run of form after collecting seven points from their last three league matches, it may be difficult to make changes.

Midfielder Mark Byrne is effectively out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.