Dean Morgan is hoping to impress at Gillingham Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Andrew Gidley

Martin Allen paraded three new signings in Gillingham’s first pre-season friendly at Dartford on Saturday, and hopes they won’t be the last.

Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, Allen’s 20-year-old son Charlie, and Ben Strevens joined on Friday and three trialists, strikers Damian Reeves – who scored 44 goals for non-league Altrincham last season – Dean Morgan and midfielder Ryan Gilligan, were also given a run-out in the game which Gills won 1-0, thanks to Strevens’ 73rd minute winner.

Speaking about the trio, the Gills boss said: "I don’t call Charlie ‘my boy’ – he is just another player here.

"He is full of energy and running, he has trained all summer, and played his part for the goal and was tackled in the six-yard box, before it went through to Ben to score. He is not a one-paced average round-the-centre-circle midfielder, he can get in behind and get in those areas.

"Ben has got form and quality, can play through the middle, in the hole, wide left or right, up front on his own, and I know what Stuart can do, today was typical of what he always does."

Gills will soon have four keepers on their books with Nelson, injured Ross Flitney, and Daren Hawkes, joined by Tommy Forecast, who is moving to Gills on a season-long loan as part of the Paulo Gazzaniga Southampton deal.

He is due this week after returning from the Saints’ pre-season tour to France.

Allen said: "I don’t know how many more signings we can bring in, I will talk to the chairman, he’s on holiday at the moment, but I talk to him about 45 times a day.

"A lot of key players left at the end of last season, and I thought I needed to improve a little gap between the good young players and the first XI."

Charlie Lee was skipper at Dartford, but Allen still has to decide who will lead the side.

The Gills boss added: "There are still more players to come in, hopefully with strong characters and personality, to help our team, and they may come into consideration for that job."

How many more signings should Allen make? Comment below.