Gillingham defender Ryan Jackson is set to return from injury soon and others shouldn’t be far behind.

Jackson should be fit for this Saturday's trip to Plymouth Argyle and fellow right-back Robbie McKenzie might also be available after both missed the opener against Lincoln City.

John Akinde was also troubled by an ankle injury and boss Steve Evans preferred instead to utilise a 100% fit Gerald Sithole on the bench to face The Imps on Saturday.

Jackson, who picked up an injury in the pre-season fixture at Colchester, was close to being involved on Saturday but Rhys Bennett got the nod after filling in at right-back during the final warm-up matches.

“Jacko was a debate,” said Evans. “He trained (on Friday) and he was running full out, the medical opinion was that he needed a few more days. If you don’t listen to the medical boys there is no point having them. We will certainly have him for Plymouth.”

McKenzie missed all of Gills’ pre-season matches with an ankle injury but Evans said “he wasn’t far away”, adding: “That would be great, it would give us 16 (senior) players.”

Midfielder MacDonald looks like missing a few more games but the problems aren’t as bad as first feared, sidelined for another 10 days instead of the three to four weeks that Evans was first told to expect.

Gillingham do remain short and the no.9 shirt remains vacant as Evans chases that elusive striker.

“We are still trying,” he commented. “As the chairman said to me, ‘you will never stop being a trier Steve.’

“We have to fight. From the sidelines to the supporters we have to collectively fight.”

On Sunday, speaking with the Gills media, he added: “We need to sign a few players and yes a striker is a priority but as a manager you have to be governed by the resources you have to do it.

“The pandemic has hit us hard and putting the club at financial risk can never be contemplated so I will try and get help where I can.”

Evans won't take any risks with his first team at Crawley Town on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup. He has hinted that he may send a young team down to play that game.

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