Luke O’Neill is closing in on a return to fitness.

The right-sided defender could be back on Saturday to face Northampton at Priestfield.

Interim Gillingham boss Steve Lovell believes he has the best chance from those out injured of returning.

He said: “Watching the boys, the injured ones train on Tuesday morning, out of the three (him, Ben Nugent and Alex Lacey), I think Luke O’Neill looks the best bet. Alex Lacey is still a couple of weeks off and Ben Nugent perhaps another week.”

Both Bradley Garmston (calf) and Mark Byrne (hamstring) sat out Tuesday’s game on the advice of the medical staff and Lovell was happy to go with their opinion.

He said: “Bradley has been out a long time. He did 45 minutes on Saturday (against Peterborough) and did well.

“I trust the sports scientists and physios to give me the right information and Bradley was rested because of that, the same with Mark Byrne. Hopefully, they are available on Saturday.”

Before Tuesday, Lovell had just three days on the training ground and is eager for more, ahead of the visit of Northampon.

He said: “I said to Mark Patterson (youth coach) on Monday, ‘wouldn’t it be lovely is this was the first day of pre-season, where you’ve got a group of players you can work with and put on what you want to’. But it isn’t.

“We have to get over to them quickly that this is the way forward, this is what we want to do, this is how we want to work and they either buy into it or they don’t. If they don’t, then they will be left by the side.

“They all gave 100% on Tuesday, they ran their socks off all night, some of them went through cramp. Elliott List and Tom Eaves at the end couldn’t give any more.”