Gillingham are in the market for some more defenders after a trio of players picked up knee injuries in pre-season.

Aaron Morris has suffered a serious injury and will be out for an unspecified period of time, whilst left back Bradley Garmston is out for about six weeks and may need an operation after dislocating a knee cap, whilst Adedeji Oshilaja is out for some weeks after sustaining a strain at the back of his knee.

For manager Justin Edinburgh, the loss of the trio has come as a big blow just weeks before the start of the new League One season and he admits he is looking at options to come into Priestfield:

“They’re unfortunate injuries. Aaron we’ll assess, Brad will be out for six weeks with a dislocated knee cap – we’re waiting on the specialist’s opinion on whether or not he needs an operation. And Deji has a little strain on the back of his knee.”

“These are big blows as they are all defensive players. We hope that Deji is back next week, we’ll assess our situation from there.”

“As staff working alongside our medical and sports science team, we do everything we can to ensure that we don’t get soft tissue injuries. Impact injuries like these three we can’t affect, they’re part and parcel of the sport.”

Edinburgh cast his eye over a number of trialists in the 2-1 win at Concord Rangers on Tuesday night with former Northampton Town player Josh Lelan coming on in the second half, whilst former Scunthorpe United and Sheffield United defender Marcus Williams played left back in the first half.

East Thurrock’s Tom Wraight also featured in the game as The Gills came from behind and Edinburgh admits he may give some of the trialists more time when they face Billericay Town on Wednesday night:

“We’re still looking to get more bodies in for the season, and some (of the trialists) have been recommended in certain areas. We’ll keep looking at them.”

“We knew we needed another centre back, cover at right back and left back. We’re moving along on this.”

Both Mitchell Dickenson and Darren Oldaker were given chances in the absence of Morris, Garmston and Oshilaja on Tuesday night and Edinburgh was pleased with their contributions:

“I think Mitch Dickenson and Darren Oldaker both showed tonight they’re comfortable in this environment. I’ve told them they’re here for a reason, because they should be pushing (for the first-team).”

“I felt Mitchell did well for long periods of time, he was strong and composed, and I thought Darren looked sublime when he came on. He looked class. We don’t want to start putting too much pressure on him, but everybody saw tonight what he’s about.”

“First, it’s still a fitness exercise, we wanted to go through the gears. The players are getting 45 or 60 minutes at the moment, (it’s a good test of) fitness, attitude, playing in a different environment versus a team who were always going to be hard to break down.

“I felt we moved the ball well on a dry pitch, sometimes the final cross or pass maybe wasn’t there, but I’m delighted with the application and effort.”

A Steve King free header gave Concord the 18th minute lead with Luke Norris levelling early in the second half for the Gills and former Concord youth player Billy Knott won it for the visitors with a last minute penalty.

Gillingham: Nelson (Hadler H/T), Jackson (Lelan H/T), Ehmer (Osadebe H/T), Dickenson (Cundle 67), Williams (Wraight H/T), Wright (Oldaker 60), Byrne (Martin 60), Murrell-Williamson (Knott H/T), Dack (Hessenthaler 60), Norris (List 63), McDonald (Donnelly 60).