Gillingham boss Peter Taylor could bring in a loan defender to replace injured Matt Fish ahead of MK Dons opener
Published: 00:00, 06 August 2014
Updated: 13:20, 06 August 2014
Peter Taylor is weighing up his options before deciding whether to bring in a loanee right-back.
The Gills are preparing for their opening League 1 match of the season without the services of first-choice right-back Matt Fish.
Fish suffered a knee injury in a collision with the goal during a pre-season game against Ipswich.
Taylor played ex-Sunderland man Liam Marrs last week at Dover but released him soon after. He is now assessing former Fulham defender Alex Brister.
The trialist could be offered a short-term deal or Gills boss Taylor could look elsewhere.
Alternatively he has options closer to home.
He said: “We don’t think he (Fish) will be fit for this week and it is an area where we are looking at different things.
“We had Alex Brister in for a couple of days and we are looking at other things as well. We might have to think about a loan.”
A minor, but painful, ailment meant Brister wasn’t able to perform at his best against Fleet.
“It was difficult for him on Saturday to have played, having just got to know the boys, but what people don’t realise is that he has some shocking blisters,” revealed the Gills boss.
“That’s really been limiting him but they have got slightly better and he trained okay on Tuesday.”
Brister could be signed on a short-term deal, initially as cover.
“I don’t think anyone at the moment will get a long-term situation with us,” said Taylor.
“There is a chance that we could offer someone a short-term deal if we think they can do a job. If they don’t we will get on with what we have here.
“I have got people like Callum Davies and Josh Pritchard, who has done exceptionally well, and I know Aaron Morris can play there.”
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Luke Cawdell