Gillingham midfielder Ethan Coleman is playing catch-up this pre-season.

Manager Mark Bonner revealed that the 24-year-old has been struggling with an ankle injury since the players returned for training a fortnight ago.

Coleman was missing for the Gills on Saturday in the game against Millwall but there is hope he can be back soon.

“We are a little bit light in midfield,” said the Gills boss.

“(George Lapslie) has got a bit of a tight quad so wasn’t available. Alex Giles filled in in midfield and did alright. Robbie McKenzie was in there because Ethan Coleman has got a bit of an ankle.

“He is a couple of weeks behind everyone else but hopefully will get back on grass at some point (this) week.

“He hasn’t been in with the boys as of yet and it just means having to shake people around.”

Lapslie was linked with a move to League 2 rivals Colchester United earlier this summer but remains at Gillingham for now.

Oli Hawkins is another player who is available for transfer.

Hawkins was played in central defence against Millwall, a position he was played in at former club Mansfield Town before being switched to attack under Gills’ previous two managers.

The Gills also handed a place in the weekend team to youth right-back Harry Webster, having only trained with the first team for a couple of days.

Bonner was impressed, saying: “He was really good at right-back and that is what is good about pre-season, it is good for the young boys to get opportunities.

“But Joe Gbode was playing on the right side (of attack) and he is a centre-forward really, McKenzie can play anywhere but he is playing central midfield, same with Giles.

“Everyone is a bit all over the place and we have to do certain things to make two teams.

“Shad Ogie has played more at centre-back than left-back but he played left-back and I think we will see plenty of that in pre-season.

“Nobody can do more than 45 minutes so you just make your two teams up and we will add to the squad as we go and that will balance itself out anyway.”

A Gillingham XI will play away at Deal Town tonight (7.30pm). The first-team will be back in action on Saturday at home to Watford (3pm).