Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth admits their squad profile this season isn’t without risks.
The Gills are planning a squad of similar size to last term, but they are likely to carry fewer senior players.
Ainsworth enjoyed some success last season when calling on some of the club’s youngsters, including midfielder Harry Waldock and a goalscoring debut for youth player Sullivan Booth.
The Gills lost 14 senior players from last season’s squad and have so far replaced them with seven new signings.
Commenting on a squad with less senior players, Ainsworth said: “It’s always going to be a risk. We probably worked hard in recruitment not to sign players who are going to get injured.
“We are still carrying the likes of Omar [Beckles], Bradley [Dack] and Garath [McCleary], the over-30s that you have to protect and look after. We’ve definitely got to get some reinforcements and they may be in the building with these young boys.
“We’ll see how they fare in pre-season because there is some big noise coming out from some of these youngsters. Logan Dobbs has had some good loans and Harry Webster was really highly rated the year before I came in and just lost a little bit last season.
“We are looking forward to utilising everyone and pre-season is big for them all. They’ve got to show me what they can do.”
Michael Luxton, Cruz Beszant and Louie Dayal have had a taste of first-team football and have stepped up from the youth team to the professional ranks. Stan Sargent will hope to be more involved this season, too.
Ainsworth said: “We’re probably going to be very similar numbers to last year, but we have more young lads, more prospects coming through, which is important for the club.
“I think the academy set-up is something that [technical director] Richard Dobson’s getting his teeth into. Signing the youngsters is important and they supplement your Waldocks, Websters, Logan Dobbs, people like that.
“We’re carrying quite a few first and second-year pros, who I hope will come in and make an impact but actually, first team regulars, we’re probably going to be a smaller squad, which is always my style and I’ve had a lot of success with that.”
Injuries played a part last season. Avoiding them is impossible but the Gills were constantly up against it.
Ainsworth is keen for his squad to be as fit as possible this time around and hopes that will help mitigate some of those risks.
“I want a fitter, stronger squad,” he said. “I believe in the squad I’ve got, I really do.
“What I’ve asked for [from the sports science team] is a really fit, strong team this year.
“I really want to be running hard and working hard and running over teams. That’s what I want. That’s what I’m used to. That’s the success I’ve had with teams and hopefully we can do that.
“I think fitness and injured players cost us a little bit last season so we’re trying our best to make everyone as robust as we can this year.”
The Gills have their first pre-season game coming up on Tuesday night, away to Dover Athletic (kick-off 7.30pm).
