Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is keen to bolster his striking options with a free-agent signing after recent injuries to Will Goodwin, Ronan Hale and Lamin Sillah

Gillingham have a shortage of strikers and manager Gareth Ainsworth is keen to bring in extra firepower.

Injuries to Will Goodwin and Ronan Hale in Saturday’s game at York came after the Gills had already been forced to leave loan striker Lamin Sillah at home for the trip after he suffered a bang to the head in training.

At one stage on Saturday, the Gills were playing with midfielders Harry Waldock and Robbie McKenzie as attacking options alongside Hale, who picked up a knock to the ribs himself in the first half and came off early in the second.

Ainsworth expects Sillah to be back this weekend but the youngster is lacking experience, while Hale’s rib injury and Goodwin’s persistent injury problems have left the Gills boss considering whether he needs to add to his options.

Asked if Gillingham were short of attacking options, Ainsworth was certain.

“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “We're short, and the two strikers that I've bought [in the summer] for being target men, Will's struggling to stay fit and Lamin missed [the weekend] from a concussion protocol, but Lamin will be back [on Saturday], so there'll be no problem on that one.

“Just whether I look at adding to it now because of where we are.”

If Ainsworth wants a big man to bolster his numbers, he doesn’t have to look far.

Former Gillingham striker Tom Eaves is a free agent and keen to move back to the Gills. He was at last weekend’s home game against Bristol Rovers, watching alongside head of recruitment Andy Hessenthaler.

Ainsworth will have the final say on whether the 34-year-old fits the bill, should the club’s hierarchy give the green light for an addition.

The Gills are limited in who they can bring in with the transfer window for contracted players now closed.

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