Gillingham hope to have another player in the door after the weekend but the striker search goes on.

Boss Steve Evans says he’s managed to pull in a favour from a Premier League contact to bring a player in next week to bolster the ranks after stating that they have no more funds.

Evans was hoping to move on defender Christian Maghoma and striker John Akinde before the season started but both remain involved. Nine permanent deals and two loan agreements have been made this summer but more are needed, says the Gills manager.

He wants another forward - two if Akinde goes - plus another couple of additions to give him the cover he requires.

“I think we are doing one (deal) after Saturday,” said Evans.

“The kid is maybe involved with the first team in the Premier League (at the weekend), then he is possibly coming here. I think he is in on Monday and that is someone we know who is helping us.

“We will let Saturday go past and try and make that happen on Monday. People are trying to help us, we have no funds.”

Options upfront are limited but he tried something new on Tuesday night with new signing Mustapha Carayol and teen Gerald Sithole starting in attack. Vadaine Oliver is his first pick striker but Akinde - who is currently struggling with an ankle injury - is his only other out and out front-man to lead the line.

“We are still trying to do a forward,” said Evans, who has until the end of the month to conclude any transfer deals.

“We need one. We need to get John Akinde back fit. John has an ankle knock and there is nothing to it, it is days, if it is a week, it is a week, but he is a proper striker in this league and we need him fit as well. If he goes out we need two strikers and if he doesn’t then we need one.

“What I keep saying is that we can’t just sign players that don’t help us. With the likes of (young players) Harvey Lintott, Bailey Akehurst and Gerald Sithole we had identified them at the end of last season that they could help us. They won’t play every week, if they do then maybe we have an issue, but certainly by around Christmas time I would expect two of them to be involved every week.

“We need some strikers, one or two, certainly one.”

More on the Gills;

• Evans’ fury at ‘leg-breaking’ challenge

• Proud manager as kids deliver

• Harvey’s amazing night for Gills