Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth believes his squad are adapting well despite difficult training conditions.
Prolonged wet weather has forced the Gills onto artificial surfaces in recent weeks, creating challenges for both players and staff as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures.
Gillingham have a week to get ready for away trips to Crewe on Saturday, and then Chesterfield next Tuesday, but the wet weather is set to continue ahead of those games.
Ainsworth admitted the reliance on 3G pitches has been far from ideal, particularly for players carrying knocks or past injuries.
He said: “Most clubs will tell you that some of their players don’t like the 4G because of previous injuries.
“I couldn’t train on it towards the end of my career.
“I understand, so I can say, ‘Yep, I understand you. I’m not going to say get out there and just do it’. You can’t.
“We’ve got lads taking painkillers for training now because we’re on 4G and things, and it’s not great.
“We have to be careful with this.
“The boys have adapted very well, as have my staff.”
The Gills have been using artificial pitches at Gillingham Anchorians and Star Meadow, just up the road from their own saturated training facility at Beechings Cross.
It’s meant they’ve been able to train, but Ainsworth admits it been a bit of a logistical challenge, with around 30 senior players and a group of youngsters on the fringes too.
He said: “There’s only one pitch, it’s our [first] team and we’ve got this group of development players that want to come through. We’ve got the academy as well, based here. It’s really tough to get everyone on that and get a slot.
“The sooner the training ground is better, then the better for me. We’ll have to make do again but both Anchorians and Star Meadow, thank you. You’ve helped us out and appreciate the hire of the pitch. We needed it.
“They’re great people to have a link with.
“I’m giving them a nice mention because they really are fantastic pitches and have helped us train over these last couple of weeks.
“The forecast is something that I’ve started looking at very closely now and I think we’ve got a bit more rain coming.”
Ainsworth will be looking forward to a free week so he can get extra time to help integrate his recent new signings into the squad.
Defender Omar Beckles and striker Ronan Hale have impressed but midfielder Cameron Antwi is having to be more patient, an unused substitute in the last two matches after coming off the bench for his debut at home to Bromley.
“We’ll get better and better,” said the Gills boss.
“We haven’t worked with them in training, really. because of the schedule of games. It’s been crazy.
“At the moment, the boys have been brilliant, with being adaptable, and we’ll see what comes this week.
“The training ground is very wet, as is everywhere in Kent at the moment. I’m looking forward to when the sun comes out!”
