Gillingham manager Mark Bonner has provided an injury update on striker Josh Andrews after his return to action last weekend.
Andrews made just his third League 2 substitute appearance of the season when he came on for the final seven minutes at Swindon.
While it’s great that Bonner has an extra option given the long queue at the treatment room, the Gills boss admitted they’re still trying to find out what will work best for the 23-year-old striker.
“Josh is on a really reduced training programme and we’re just trying to build up some robustness in him,” said Bonner.
“It’s going to be a real slow burner. He’s probably 10, 15 minutes on matchdays at most at the moment.
“We’ve got to put a few weeks together where he gets through a week with a bit of a reduced programme and gradually builds himself up as we haven’t found a pattern yet – he hasn’t in the last year, really – where he can really sustain himself and stay fit and available.
“Number one, we want to try and build him up, that will take time. Number two, we want to try and make him as available as possible for games.
“While we’re a little bit light in that area of the pitch he will certainly help us as an option on the bench as that builds up.
“Hopefully, somewhere down the line what he is available for and how much he can do just continues to grow but we’re probably a little bit away from that at the moment.”
Midfielder Armani Little has come through a full week of training without issues after also returning to action from the substitutes’ bench last Saturday.
Veteran goalkeeper Glenn Morris has also trained all week and is part of the matchday squad when Gillingham host Blackpool in the FA Cup first round this Saturday.
Bonner also gave an update on the fitness of Bradley Dack, Aaron Rowe and Elliott Nevitt.
“Dacky and Aaron were on the grass (on Thursday) with James Russell,” said Bonner.
“Aaron is probably a week or so away from joining training. (It was) Dacky’s first day on the grass, just straight-line running so we don’t know how that will play out.
“Nevitt is not on the grass yet but he’s doing a lot in the gym, he’s still got this issue in his calf which is getting better but he’s probably a week or so away from training.
“Port Vale will come too soon for them, Stevenage will probably come too soon for them which is a shame as that is well-timed for some.”
