Gillingham players Bradley Dack, Ethan Coleman, Elliott Nevitt and Josh Andrews take part in full training ahead of Chesterfield match – Tim Dieng sits it out with an injury
15:00, 29 August 2024
updated: 15:22, 29 August 2024
Gillingham manager Mark Bonner could be facing some selection dilemmas soon.
Four players - including recent signing Bradley Dack - are back in full training ahead of their League 2 match against Chesterfield this Saturday.
Transfer deadline: “The budget has been spent”
Dack has yet to make an appearance since he returned to the club, and he’s been joined in full training this week by Ethan Coleman, Josh Andrews and Elliott Nevitt.
Nevitt is another summer addition who has yet to feature.
Bonner said: “We have decisions to make on all of them into whether they are there yet, or not.
“We have another day before we have to decide that but they are really close to contributing, maybe ready for some minutes this weekend, if not then hopefully Tuesday (against Peterborough in the EFL Trophy). If not, then hopefully Doncaster (next weekend in the league).
“Every day is another to get through but they are getting close, which is really encouraging. We are quite pleased with that.
“We are on the cusp of having quite a few players back that would make us quite a bit stronger, which is exciting.”
Oli Hawkins missed out last weekend and Bonner explained why.
“It was a mad one,” he said. “Literally the last kick of training he blocked a shot and fractured his wrist and that was a disaster for us.
“He is in a cast and we’ll miss him for a bit.
“We see the specialist on Monday and he gets his cast changed and then we will know at what stage he might be able to start doing contact and playing again.
“We certainly don’t expect him to play for a couple of weeks.”
Midfielder Tim Dieng, meanwhile, has a slight injury that has kept him out of training.
Bonner said: “He is feeling a bit in his knee and we will see where he is at.”
Connor Masterson has missed the last three games, having started the opening-day match against Carlisle United.
He has been dealing with an Achilles injury which Bonner says has started to settle.
“He has been doing lots of running this week,” said the manager.
“We are hoping that clears up and he will be able to train next week. He is still missing.”
Euan Williams, meanwhile, remains out suspended this Saturday, serving the last of his three-game ban after a red card at Swansea.
He will be unavailable for a further week after being selected for the Northern Ireland under-21s, who play England and Ukraine next week.
“They are brilliant games for him,” said the manager. “A great test and we hope that goes well for him.
“We hope those two games give him an opportunity to get himself sharp, it’s good experience, so when he comes back he is sharp and ready to go to help us.”
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