Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has been talking to KSN ahead of an important week for the club with an away “six-pointer” at Oxford United on Saturday before heading North on Wednesday for the Emirates FA Cup replay with Hartlepool United.

“It’s a big week for us,” Lovell conceded, “we’ve got the chance of pulling three more points away from the bottom and then there’s the replay on Wednesday.”

“Saturday is the undoubted priority at the moment, with the shape and make up of our team, which we’ve got to get through first – they’re on a bit of a good run!”

“It’ll be tough down there at Oxford, but everyone at the club knows that the replay is going to be a big game for the Football Club.”

“When you add Luton at home who are an excellent side and I’m sure another tough game – it all just highlights that every game we play is a tough game in its’ own way, as every team who you play is a tough challenge and one that we have to face up to and give it our very best shot.”

“I think Oxford are in a false position as they’ve a lot of good players, but I think they’ve been a lot like us with injuries.”

“They’ve a few of them back and it’s no coincidence that they’re on a good run now. They’ll be well organised and well tuned and their boss Karl Robinson, I know very well and he’ll now have them keyed up and focused for us.”

“It’s going to be a challenge, but one we’re looking forward to the challenge – perhaps our away form is better than our home, after we go to places like Portsmouth and Charlton and get wins, why can’t we go to Oxford this week and do the same?”

Tuesday’s win over Crawley Town in the Check-A-Trade Trophy saw Lovell rotate his squad with players who have been out injured or just on the sidelines prominently featuring.

The Gills boss told us, “After the game, I had a word with a few of them and I’m still not entirely sure that some of those that played on Tuesday have had enough actual playing time in their legs which with a very busy time coming up, we’ve got to look after very carefully.”

“They’ve accepted that and now are in a position where they’ve got to get back to the levels that they were, so that when I need to call on them, they will be ready to answer the call!”

“But they also know that I’m not going to call on them if they’re not up to speed or fully fit. I think the word is sharp – having the sharpness and ability to get around the pitch.”

“If we can get everyone back fit, then they’ve shown what a good side that they are from the results that we’ve had and it’s just the consistency now that we’ve got to meet.”

“I think we’re a little bit ahead from where we were when we came in last year, and it’s important that we build on that.”

“We’ve got the squad to do it – we’ve definitely got the starting eleven to do it, but because of the injuries that we’ve had, we’ve put players out there that perhaps haven’t been completely fit because we haven’t had the numbers and that has undoubtedly cost us results.”

“We’re now getting to the stage when everyone is available, and I think if we can keep that we’ll be moving up the League very quickly indeed.”

Team news for the weekend and after his previous response, there was little surprise that there wasn’t much!

Concluding Lovell said, “We’re just missing Callum Reilly with injury and Josh Parker’s who’s away internationally so we are almost there, we’re almost there!”