MARK STIMSON is stepping up the hunt for defensive cover ahead of Tuesday's League 1 match with Oldham.

The Gillingham manager, already short of central defenders, lost Simon King to a hamstring injury in the disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Northampton on Saturday, and now needs to act.

"Maybe it’s a forced issue that we have to get another centre-half in, and hopefully we can do that," said Stimson.

The return from injury on Saturday of Ian Cox helps the situation but Stimson is unsure how the 36-year-old will cope with two games in four days.

"It will be a big ask," he said. "He’s no spring chicken anymore and he hasn’t played for a long while.

"He’ll roll his sleeves up and give his best because he’s a top pro and that’s what he gives every week, his best."

Stimson will aim to extend Adam Bygrave’s loan from Reading for a third and final month but he is keen to strengthen the squad with a permanent addition and Grays defender Jon Ashton fits the bill.

He said: "I would love to add him to the squad. He’s a winner.

"We’ve got to wait on that one. They’ve got a chance to get into the play-offs and they don’t want to lose one of their players if they’re still in the FA Trophy and the play-offs. We have to be patient. We can’t force it."

King looks likely to be sidelined for a couple of weeks and with Efe Sodje (eye) still out, Stimson will be trying to press Grays into a definitive answer.

More Gills news and reaction in Monday's Medway Messenger