Gillingham manager Mark Bonner believes their EFL Trophy match with Peterborough United is perfectly timed.
It’s a game the Gills need to bring back several players from injury downtime and one which could see a welcome return to the team for recent signing Bradley Dack.
Bonner’s a fan of the competition – now sponsored by Bristol Street Motors – and it comes at a good time for his team.
The Gills boss said: “I think there’s loads of positives to take from it and the opportunities that can be there.
“Sometimes the games are timed where you just think, ‘Oh, we really don’t need the game now’, because we’re a bit stretched. But this one’s time perfectly for some of those boys, so we’ll embrace that one for sure.
“We’re really looking forward to it. Ethan Coleman, Bradley Dack, Josh Andrews, Elliott Nevitt. We want those players closer to our team.
“We need to get them closer to being able to impact league games, which is good.”
Andrews made a late appearance off the bench for the Gills against Chesterfield – his first of the season because of injury.
Dack, who rejoined the club in the middle of last month, was an unused substitute in the same game. He awaits his first Gillingham appearance since April 2017, before a summer move that year to Blackburn Rovers.
Bonner said: “In a different game, Dacky might have been able to get on the pitch (against Chesterfield) for a little bit. He’s ready to do that.
“It was just when it’s 10 men, in the shape of the team, it probably didn’t allow for that so much, and it was a tough first game to come back.
“Those are two good additions and hopefully we’re not too far behind with a couple of others.”
Two of those are former Crewe striker Nevitt – a summer addition who has yet to feature – and midfielder Coleman. Both are getting over injuries but have been back in full training.
“We are hoping for Tuesday,” said Bonner, of both players.
“If we can get some minutes into them, it’ll be good, but it’s a tough game because they’re a good side Peterborough.
“Hopefully it’ll be a real good night for us to get some players closer. That’s the main thing.”
Gills are short of central defenders with Conor Masterson injured and captain Max Ehmer suspended for the weekend. Tim Dieng and Oli Hawkins are other options but neither was available at the weekend.
It could mean Alex Giles gets a chance to impress at the back.
Bonner said: “(There are) not many (options) at all at the moment, probably just Robbie (McKenzie), but Alex Giles is around and he’ll get some game time on Tuesday, which would be good for him.”
Fulham loan keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond could make his debut for the Gills while youngsters Harry Waldock and Stanley Skipper will be hoping for some involvement.
