Gillingham boss Steve Evans enjoyed watching new signing Jordan Roberts make his debut on Saturday and is hoping to bring in a couple more before next weekend.

A striker, a midfielder and a versatile defender are all on the manager’s wishlist as he looks to strengthen his squad in a bid to battle amongst the top sides for a place in the League 1 play-offs.

Roberts, who can play anywhere up top and on the wing, joined on loan from Ipswich for the rest of the season in time to start against Peterborough on Saturday.

“I thought he was particularly impressive,” Evans said.

“Hopefully by the middle of the week we will try and do one or two more little bits.

“If we can bring some (players) that have quality and the work ethic that Jordan has got, then we are heading in the right direction.

“We cannot spend big money, we don’t have it, but we will try as best we can and the chairman and the board will support us as much as they can.”

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Describing the positions he is looking at, Evans said: “There will certainly be a forward coming in, a midfield player and maybe a central defender who can play one of the full-back positions. That is the three key areas we need to strengthen.

“We looked behind us on the bench (on Saturday) and we had Mikael Mandron who has been off with his new baby, Alex Jakubiak and Regan Charles-Cook. We have Ouss Cisse and Lee Hodson competing for a place on the bench and we need two or three more.

“If that strengthens the starting XI then that strengthens the bench and when we look behind us, at key times in the game when we change it, we can change it positively.”

Roberts came in for Jakubiak at the weekend as Gillingham’s only change from the team that started against West Ham in the FA Cup the previous week.

Evans said: “Alex was unfortunate but he was still tired on Thursday. He hadn’t started for a while, he put a real shift in and was feeling the effects.”

On Roberts’ performance, Evans added: “I thought he was terrific, he gave them a real problem.

“Jordan has always been a player that wants to get on the ball and work hard. We have some good competition in that area. One more (forward) will probably come in during the week.

“If we can do that we have got where we want to be and then we are one or two players away.

“We are close, but I have had a player sitting in my office before with pen in hand and then the deal is suddenly off.

“The chairman will try hard to help and support us.

“The players have to keep up their work ethic. Some days we might not have the quality but you can get there through effort and determination.”

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