Gillingham might be able to use five substitutes instead of three if football resumes during the coronavirus crisis.

Plans are being put in place for football to get back underway to complete the current 2019/20 campaign and FIFA - football's international governing body - have proposed using extra subs.

Gills boss Steve Evans has rubbished an idea to use 11 - suggesting he might have to play himself if that happens - but five seems more realistic.

The temporary measure would help clubs cope during what would be a congested fixture schedule of at least two games a week to get the season finished.

The proposal will need to be approved by the IFAB (International Football Association Board) who are the game’s rule-makers and it would be then up to each competition whether or not to implement the ruling.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “Safety of the players is one of FIFA's main priorities. One concern in this regard is that the higher than normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload.

"In light of this, and in light of the unique challenge faced globally in delivering competitions according to the originally foreseen calendar, FIFA proposes that a larger number of substitutions be temporarily allowed, at the discretion of the relevant competition organiser.

"In competitions where less than five substitutions are currently allowed, each team would now be given the possibility to use up to five substitutions during the match, with the possibility of an additional substitution remaining during extra time, where relevant."

Gillingham’s squad would be stretched to the limit, with only 19 fit senior players on their books. In contrast, some other teams with twice the amount of staff may be advantaged.

The Gills haven’t played a competitive game since snatching a late point at Sunderland on March 7. Their final game of the season should have been played this coming Sunday, with the Gills due to host Bristol Rovers.

All nine games, including any potential play-off dates, could be fit into a 56-day window, which is a plan the EFL have drawn up, although all is dependent on government guidelines.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italian teams can resume training on May 18 with games taking place soon after. German’s top teams are hoping to be back in action behind closed doors earlier than that. Spanish La Liga clubs could be playing by the end of May.

In England, the EFL are hoping rigorous testing will enable them to restart in line with the Premier League.

Further down the pyramid things remain much more uncertain, however. Non-league football is all over now, including the National League after they voted to cancel remaining matches, but when the 2020/21 season can start is up in the air.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, speaking at the weekend, said it would be “difficult” for amateur sport to return this summer due to the “level and scale of interaction.”

He added: "I think the professional sport may be different because of the scale of testing that they would be able to introduce.

“We do want to look when it is safe and responsible at ways to allow more outdoors activities to take place, but again we have to have the evidence that it is a sure-footed step that does not allow coronavirus to get a grip back on the country."

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