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Gillingham host League 1 Charlton Athletic at Priestfield in a pre-season friendly – summer transfer target Alfie May scored on Addicks debut in Spain

05:00, 18 July 2023

Gillingham are up against a Charlton side tonight who could include the striker they were hoping to sign.

The Gills put in a bid for Alfie May before League 1 Charlton came in with an offer his old club Cheltenham and the player couldn’t refuse. May scored on Friday on his debut in a friendly for the Addicks against Leyton Orient in the Spanish resort of Marbella.

Manager Neil Harris and assistant David Livermore look on as Gillingham played Millwall at the weekend Picture: Keith Gillard
Manager Neil Harris and assistant David Livermore look on as Gillingham played Millwall at the weekend Picture: Keith Gillard

Charlton are back from their Spanish trip and will head to Priestfield tonight for a 7.30pm kick off.

Gillingham are hoping to still bring in a striker but are likely to be short up top again with Oli Hawkins missing with a heel injury and Lewis Walker out long-term.

It’s another chance for the Gills to get in minutes against a higher-league opponent and manager Neil Harris is likely to name a similar squad to the weekend game with Millwall, which will include a handful of youngster to bolster the numbers.

Harris wants four more players to add to his squad before the transfer window closes.

Action between Gillingham and Millwall at the weekend Picture: Keith Gillard
Action between Gillingham and Millwall at the weekend Picture: Keith Gillard
Youngster Sam Gale in action for the Gills against Millwall on Saturday Picture: Keith Gillard
Youngster Sam Gale in action for the Gills against Millwall on Saturday Picture: Keith Gillard

He said: “We have to be mindful that we are playing against a really good opponent again and as we have seen some of the young players just aren’t ready for first team exposure.

“At the moment it’s more about making sure the senior players get the minutes they want and what they need to be ready.

“It is another game where we want to be as strong as we possibly can but in the constraints of who is available.

“In the first two games we played 4-4-2, we have to be flexible, flexible to who is available. I played 4-3-3 (on Saturday), I might go 3-5-2 on Tuesday.

“I am just going to be really flexible to personnel, coach the players to play systems, how we play with and without the ball and hope the players can take the information on.

“If they can’t then it is a good learning curve to learn, what players can and can’t take on, and what systems they can and can’t play in, now is the time to bed in ideas, and all will be seen at Stockport on August 5 (for the League 2 opener).”

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