Gillingham will hope to have leading scorer Tom Eaves back for the visit of League 1 leaders Portsmouth.

The Gills drew a blank at Charlton on Saturday after Eaves was left sidelined with a thigh strain.

Gillingham lost the game at The Valley 2-0.

• Report: Charlton 2 Gillingham 0
• Reaction: Quality in final third missing

An even tougher test awaits on Boxing Day when Portsmouth arrive for a 1pm kick-off at Priestfield.

Speaking about his injured striker, Lovell said: “He tweaked a thigh in a shooting drill and we didn’t want to risk him. Hopefully he will be fine for Boxing Day.”

Replacing Eaves in the squad was Brandon Hanlan, and Lovell wants to see more from the young frontman.

He said: “Forwards are judged on shots at goal, opportunities and goals, and one thing Brandon has to get into his game is that he has to start looking as if he is going to score.

“It was his first game (in the starting XI) for a while and he was blowing a bit at the end and that is why I made the substitution. It wasn’t for the fact that he wasn’t doing a good job, he did very well.

“He and Elliott List caused Charlton problems up top. He will be fine. Regan Charles-Cook is the same, they are young lads and they are learning.

“If you have the endeavour and you want to work hard then you have every chance and that’s what they want to do.”

Frontman Eaves hasn’t had problems scoring this season, netting 15 so far including what is sure to be the goal-of-the-season when he volleyed home the opener in a 2-0 victory at Portsmouth in October.

With that win behind them, Lovell insists they will have no fears when they welcome Pompey to Kent.

He said: “Anyone can beat anyone in this league. We will approach it the same way. We will be positive and go at teams, we don’t sit back. Sometimes we are a little too open, but that is the way we play.

“What we have to do in the first 15-20 minutes of a game, when we are in control with the possession, is to make it count and we didn’t do that against Charlton.”

Portsmouth are four points clear at the top having beaten Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday.