Gillingham midfielder Nicky Southall is to be made available for loan in an attempt to give him match practice.

The popular winger’s name is to be circulated among League One and Two clubs after missing much of pre-season because of injury and a family bereavement.

Young striker Andy Pugh has already gone out to Folkestone Invicta for a spell and a number of other young players look set to join Southall on the loan list as manager Mark Stimson looks to increase fitness levels.

Stimson said: "Nicky [Southall] played the other night and he put in a performance for 60 minutes. I think he needs now to try and get three or four games under his belt so he can get back to being the old Nicky Southall."