Gillingham forward Mustapha Carayol nearing match fitness as manager Neil Harris looks ahead to Lincoln City weekend trip
Published: 05:00, 24 February 2022
Winger Mustapha Carayol has an outside chance of being involved for Gillingham this weekend.
Manager Neil Harris would love the tricky wide-man to be available for their trip to Lincoln City on Saturday and admits he is getting impatient.
Carayol started for the Gills in Harris’ first game after taking charge of the team but another injury to the 33-year-old has meant he hasn’t featured since. Injuries have limited him to 24 appearances this season.
“Certainly for Bolton here (at Priestfield) on Saturday week he has a great chance,” said Harris, who hasn’t ruled out his involvement against Lincoln.
“It is just taking a little longer than we hoped. I am impatient, we want quality and attacking flair, we need it. We are crying out for it and we need him back sooner than later.”
Harris has at least managed to get Ben Reeves back playing following his injury.
The attacking midfielder made a substitute appearance at the weekend after a month out and started on Tuesday night as Harris tinkered with his formation, playing him one side of striker Vadaine Oliver while Ben Thompson played on the opposite flank.
It certainly helped make the Gills more of a threat going forward.
On his midweek involvement, Harris said: “He can make a link, he can make a pass, he has great experience and is a clever player and we have players in Tom Dickson-Peters and Charlie Kelman who are finding their way, they are just starting off in their careers.
“The position we are in sometimes you need a bit of experience, a bit of nous, it is not always about putting another centre forward on the pitch, you need to get into those areas and with the two Bens it gave us an opportunity to get higher up the pitch.”
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Luke Cawdell