Callum Harriott’s short-term deal with Gillingham is expected to be extended.

The wide-man has been involved for the Gills over the festive period, making his debut for the club off the bench against Colchester on Boxing Day and then starting against Sutton United. The free-agent signing spent the first few weeks getting fit after 18 months without football.

Manager Neil Harris said he was “really pleased” with the player’s progress.

“He is a good player and we see it every day,” Harris said. “It was unfortunate for Callum when the Stockport and Bradford games were called off because he would have got minutes, unfortunately he wasn’t well for the Wolves game where he wouldn’t have started but would have got half an hour.

“I was really pleased with his 35 minutes the other day (against Colchester) and played almost an hour (at Sutton). Normally we would have taken him off at half-time to protect him, but I wanted to go again second half, his impact was a lot less and he struggled to get back a couple of times and we felt we got him off at the right time.

“It was nice to see Hakeeb (Adelakun) then come on a little bit fresher and try and impact the game later on rather than running himself into the ground early.

“Callum is going to be an important player for us. It is not confirmed yet but he is a player I am really happy with and I am sure talks will take place about extending Callum’s deal.”

Gills are on the hunt for January additions and striker Tom Nichols was the first, arriving from Crawley. He was at Sutton on Thursday to watch his new team in action.

Nichols won’t be available for Monday's league match at Stevenage or the FA Cup game against Leicester City, as he is cup-tied, so will have to wait until January 14 to make his debut, at home to Hartlepool. It’s the weekend Harris hopes to have his new-look squad in place.

On his latest addition, the Gills boss said: “First and foremost he is a great pro to have in the building, we certainly haven’t got enough of them.

“He is a winner, he plays at the top end of the pitch, I would say he is a nine and a half (positionally), something I feel we have really missed this season with Ben Reeves not quite been at (full) fitness and now he is out for a period and Olly Lee not being fit and healthy, I have really felt we have missed that.

“Over the years he has been a goal threat as well, I said to him coming in, we want him to be himself as a pro and a leader and a link player, but we also need goals as well.”