TOMMY Johnson could be out for up to a month as Gillingham's injury problems worsened over the weekend.

The Gills striker, who has only completed one full game all season, picked up a hamstring injury and was substituted after only 22 minutes of the 3-1 home defeat against Division 1 leaders Portsmouth on Saturday.

Johnson joins fellow strikers Mamady Sidibe and Rod Wallace on the sidelines as boss Andy Hessenthaler looks set to be without his three summer signings for the foreseeable future.

Wallace is set to visit a specialist today about his groin problem, while Sidibe is out for at least a month with knee ligament damage.

Nyron Nosworthy (groin), Ty Gooden (groin) and Simon Osborn (achilles) are also out of action, although Adrian Pennock returned to the bench at the weekend after a long-term injury.

Hessenthaler said: “It's going from bad to worse, but we have just got to get on with it. Every club has injuries and loses key players, but we have to get a few players back and, once we do, I hope we can go on a decent run again.

“It's disappointing because for the first three games we had a settled side. Then injuries have disrupted us.

“Barry Ashby played with a swollen ankle strapped against Portsmouth, but Guy Ipoua got through okay.”

With crucial games coming up, including a potential banana skin at Division 3 outfit Torquay United in the Worthington Cup on Tuesday night, Hessenthaler admits he might consider bringing players in on loan.

One positive note for Gillingham was the form of Kevin James, who, after replacing Johnson, netted his first goal for the club with a header midway through the second period.

Hessenthaler said: “Kevin came on and scored a good goal. We had to play him as a striker, and may have to again at Torquay.”