Gillingham players Alex MacDonald and Danny Lloyd on the mend following knee injuries

Gillingham’s long-term injured players are progressing well but the short-term issues continue.

Alex MacDonald is out running again after a knee injury and Danny Lloyd is working his way back from an operation to fix anterior cruciate ligament damage. Neither will be back before the end of the season and manager Neil Harris has given an update on their progress.

MacDonald was injured six months ago. He took on assistant manager duties before Neil Harris was taken on as Steve Evans’ successor, but is now back running on the grass.

Harris said: “He is building up and it is about strengthening the knee and physically getting himself into shape to be ready to train.

“We will be back very early (for pre-season training), on June 22, as a group. We are hoping Alex will be on the starting line for us in pre-season.”

Lloyd was injured in Harris’ second game in charge, at Ipswich. He had been a standout player in those first two games after the change of manager.

His contract is up this summer and discussions will have to be had.

Commenting on his progress, Harris said: “Danny had his ACL repaired last week and the report back was that for the level of injury he got he is in a very healthy condition and that is credit to Danny, the way he conducts himself and lives his life and the strength work that he put into the equation before having the op.

“We know that is a long-term process for his recovery.”

Harris has been beset by injury issues since taking charge at Gillingham and he admitted there were more concerns ahead of the Easter weekend.

He said: “I take it as part and parcel of my job at the moment, I am not moaning at all, we will see what Friday brings [The Gills are away at Cheltenham].

“While I have been here, we have