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Josh Rees is set to be involved for Gillingham at Barnsley this weekend

Last season’s National League sensation Josh Rees is all set to get his Gillingham career underway.

Rees joined the Gills in the summer, after bagging 20 goals from midfield for Bromley, but was sidelined for the first month of the season through injury.

The 24-year-old former Arsenal youngster got 90 minutes for the Gills on Monday, in a practice game against Luton Town, scoring twice in a 7-1 win. He is now fit for the weekend trip to Barnsley.

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell
Gillingham boss Steve Lovell

Boss Steve Lovell will be hoping Rees can have the same kind of impact in League 1 that fellow newcomers Brandon Hanlan and Regan Charles-Cook have made.

Lovell said: “You don’t know do you? I would like to think so because Regan and Brandon have, he is a good strong boy, he is fit, he gets around the pitch, he gets in the box, he gets goals.

“He will be like a good new signing, coming in now. I am looking forward to seeing him play and hopefully he will be involved in some way on Saturday.”

Rees came off the bench for Nottingham Forest in the Championship, back in May 2014, his only appearance in the Football League to date.

He would have been involved from the off for the Gills, had it not been for an ankle injury, picked up in training.

Lovell said: “He was by far the fittest lad in pre-season, with the amount of running he does and he is a great lad, so I was disappointed for him to have missed out. Hopefully he will come back and start playing and playing well.”

Rees’ availability is well timed as the Gills will be without Mark Byrne and Regan Charles-Cook for the trip to Barnsley, both players picking up hamstring injuries in last weekend’s game against Coventry City.

Regan Charles-Cook down injured against Coventry Picture: Ady Kerry
Regan Charles-Cook down injured against Coventry Picture: Ady Kerry

Charles-Cook attempted to play on with his injury.

“As soon as he felt it he should have come off,” said the manager.

“He will learn from it, it was a bit of naivety really, that extra five minutes could have made it worse. Rather than two weeks, it could now be four weeks, but it shows his character, he wanted to stay on and he was devastated when he came off.

“He he has had a good start and it is a shame that he is out but it gives others an opportunity now.”

Dean Parrett is expected to be sidelined for another week but youngster Bradley Stevenson could get a recall to the squad. Lovell wasn't expecting to be making any additions ahead of the loan transfer deadline.

"We have enough," he said. "We don’t need anymore now, I think we are going to be fine. I am very happy with what we have got."

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