Steve Lovell will be looking to bolster his Gillingham squad with further signings this week.

New players could be announced on Monday, with Gills manager Lovell finalising deals for “two or three” new additions.

He has already reshaped his midfield but is now set to bring in some defensive cover and another forward.

Lovell said: “I am hoping to have at least another two in and if we can do that, then I will be more than happy with the squad.

“It doesn’t take a lot of working out that defensively perhaps, in the full-back areas, we are a little short and maybe a forward. I like to have as many as I can.

“Those are the kind of positions we are looking at to fill, with a little experience as well. We have got a few younger members in the squad now and it will be important to bring in, most probably an experienced man to help with the youngsters.

“We’ve got talented young boys who will be fighting for their place who perhaps didn’t get a fair crack of the whip last year because of the situation we were in.

“It’s up to them to push themselves forward and just because they are only 18, 19, there is no reason they can’t push through. Pre-season is an opportunity for them to show me what they can do.”

Lovell is still hoping to bring Bury’s Callum Reilly to the club on a permanent basis, following a successful loan spell last season.

He is also considering who to name as the new captain, following Lee Martin’s departure.

Lovell said: “I have got an idea. That is something I will discuss with the people concerned before I say anything.”

Gillingham start their second week of pre-season on Monday and face the first of many Kent friendlies on Saturday when they take teams to Folkestone Invicta and Sheppey.

They follow that up with games at Deal, Faversham, Bromley, Margate, Tonbridge, Welling, Dartford, Dover, Ebbsfleet, Chatham and Thamesmead. The only game outside of Kent is against former boss Andy Hessenthaler’s National League side Eastleigh.

Lovell said: “We’ve got two games per night on Tuesdays and also Saturdays, the reason being I think it is important the boys get 90 minutes under their belts. We will have enough players to take a mixture to two different venues.

“It allows our supports to go and see all of our players play against different opposition and I like to keep it local, for Kent football as well as for us.

“I do enjoy pre-season because it gives me a chance to look at different formations, different players and different positions and as a player, there is nothing better than playing.”