Striker Lewis Walker remains in Gillingham manager Neil Harris’ plans.

The forward has just recovered from injury and returns to find competition for places has dramatically increased, even with the departure of Mikael Mandron.

• More: Defender joins on loan

New signings Oli Hawkins and Tom Nichols have been manager Neil Harris’ first picks to play upfront and the club are still in the hunt for another striker.

Walker, 23, last played in the FA Cup match against Dagenham where he took a nasty blow after being fouled in that game by opposition player Harry Phipps - who was sent off for the challenge.

The Gills striker - signed in the summer after a few years playing in Italy - was back in the squad last weekend as an unused substitute at Colchester. He had missed the last six matches through injury.

Harris said: “He has a future with me. He came into the club as a project, even at the age of 24, a player who hasn’t played a lot of first team football, especially in England.

“I said from day one we had to be patient. Lew has learned so much since being here and done well off the bench or in the games, especially in the cups.

“I would like him to be here until the end of the season, I like the lad, he is a great pro, great young man and he wants to develop and learn the game. He probably asks me more questions than any other player and he can only get better as a player with better players around him.”

• More: "Winger won't play for Gills again"

Youth striker Joe Gbode has also been on the bench recently. There’s a chance he could go out on loan but not yet.

The 17-year-old will play on Tuesday night in the Kent Senior Cup at Tonbridge and Harris would like him around the group during the next few weeks as they have plenty of work to do on the training ground, bedding in the mass of new signings.

Harris said: “It has been very up and down for him but we are making a plan for him moving forward, ideally he would go out and play, like Josh Chambers and get 10-12 games, but at the moment we have the game on Tuesday and a couple of free weeks where we might need first team behind closed doors games where he will feature.

“He can play for the youth team and he trains with us whenever he is not playing. Joe is developing nicely for us and I see a lot of potential, a lot of that is developing him as a young man, as a character, but also as a professional as well and making sure he is living his life correctly.”