Gillingham’s defensive options are increasing by the week, leaving boss Steve Lovell with tough choices to make for Saturday's clash at home to Oldham.

He has recently been able to call on big defender Ben Nugent– who he deployed as a makeshift striker on Tuesday against Blackpool – while fellow centre-back Alex Lacey is now also nearing a return.

Lacey has been out injured since the end of September with an ankle injury sustained in training.

The Gills boss said: “Alex Lacey might be available for the weekend and Ben Nugent is like a new centre forward for us!

“(Central defender) Max (Ehmer) will be back Saturday because he only got a one-game suspension (for his red card at Walsall).

“It is a bit of a headache for me now, in the defensive areas, which is lovely.

“(Defenders) Connor Ogilvie and Luke O’Neill both played well (on Tuesday) and that is what you want as a manager, you want to have some problems.”

Oldham, who sit 16th in League 1, are three points better off than Lovell’s outfit.

Lovell had a points target in mind for the first three league games in November and the team are on course.

He said: “I did say that if we can get six points over those games, then we will be happy. We have got four points from two and a win Saturday will make it seven points and a good week.

"We are all looking forward to Saturday now.”