Gillingham’s young midfielder Henry Woods is again primed for a loan move away from Priestfield.

Woods, 21, is recovering from injury but is expected to be sent out to get some game-time after the Gills recently strengthened their midfield department.

Olly Lee and Callum Slattery have both arrived on loan while vice captain Stuart O’Keefe is back fit having broken his leg early on in the campaign.

A string of injuries helped keep Woods close to the first team and manager Steve Evans has been impressed with his improvement this term, but he now wants the youngster to see some action, as was the plan at the start of this season.

Evans said: “The plan at the start of the season was for Henry to go out on loan and then we had the injury situation and people dropping form. Henry has improved out of all recognition.

“He will go and command a place a division or two below us and he needs to get a run of a couple of months of competitive football, playing Saturday-Tuesday, that will benefit him.

“It would be fair to say on a level playing field he is not at the level yet with the other boys going for that central midfield area.”

O’Keefe took another step closer to being in contention for a starting place after looking good in a training ground match on Wednesday.

Evans said: "Stuart was excellent in everything he did and was one of a number of players who stood out.

“He is very much in my thoughts ahead of Saturday and in fairness we have missed him.”

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