New arrivals are expected at Gillingham next week as manager Steve Evans looks to complete his summer rebuild.

Evans hopes to bolster his ranks with a defensive addition while talks are also ongoing with a Premier League side over adding another left-sided player to the squad.

Thirteen players have been signed since the end of last season, including four on loan, and the latest addition is expected to be announced on Monday, on completion of a medical.

The Gillingham manager said: “We want to do one or two on Monday. Then we are done ahead of the October deadline and we will go with what we’ve got.”

A defensive addition will allow him to play Robbie McKenzie in a midfield role. He played right-back at Stoke City in the week.

That will help plug the gaps in the middle of the park having lost Stuart O’Keefe for the season and also seen Kyle Dempsey and Matty Willock pick up injuries. Celtic loan player Scott Robertson limped off in the 2-0 win over Blackpool as well.

Evans said: “We are down to the bare bones but I know as a manager those players will come back, circumstances will turn and when they turn we will have 21 players, which will be ideal for us,.

“We started pre-season with six outfield players. We had a few members of staff helping with training to give the boys some football.”

Evans is keen to add a forward-thinking left-sided player to his squad and is just awaiting the green-light from the Premier League player’s first-team manager.

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