Loan defender Ryan Inniss faces several weeks on the sidelines after limping off injured on his Gillingham debut.

The highly-rated Crystal Palace teenager lasted just 40 minutes of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United at Priestfield.

His arrival had ended Gills boss Peter Taylor’s desperate search for a defender who could help shore up one of League 1’s most porous back-lines.

But Inniss will now miss Gillingham’s next few outings, including their trip to Oldham on Saturday after suffering a hamstring injury.

“Ryan was enjoying himself and had a good start to the game,” said Taylor, after throwing Inniss straight into Wednesday’s starting XI.

“He had a good shot and he could have toe-poked another one close to goal and he had a header. He was having a good debut and was learning all the time.

“He would have then settled down a bit more but unfortunately he got the injury and will be out for two or three weeks now."