Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth continues to wait on loan man Ollie Wright after the Southampton keeper missed all of their pre-season matches

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth insists the club have a plan if their first-choice keeper isn’t fit for the season opener.

The Gills overhauled their goalkeeper department this summer and have signed Southampton’s promising young stopper Ollie Wright on a season-long loan.

Wright came in as Gillingham’s no.1 keeper after both Jake Turner and Glenn Morris left at the end of last season.

An injury to the summer signing, however, ruled him out for the whole of pre-season.

Gillingham have 21-year-old keeper Taite Holtam fit and available but he’s still lacking experience, with only two league appearances to his name. Fellow back-up keeper Lennon MacLorg is currently injured.

The Gills start the season with a League Cup game against Luton Town before their League Two campaign begins at home to Walsall the week after.

Ainsworth could bring in another loan keeper if Wright isn't ready.

“We'll see,” said Ainsworth, when asked about bringing in another loanee.

“We have a plan just in case he's not fit, but we're hoping that Ollie will be fit for that first league game, maybe the first cup game.

“I'm not sure yet, honestly, he's close, so that's all I can say.

“The other goalkeeper, Lennon, who played against Millwall, he's got a thigh injury, so he definitely won't be fit, but Taite, obviously, is an ample replacement.”

Holtam kept goal on Friday night as the Gills ended their pre-season programme with a 2-1 win at Ebbsfleet United. Back-up keeper on the night was Sutton Athletic’s Jack Glassborrow, who also came off the bench late on in the friendly against Millwall.