Gillingham striker Lewis Walker is out injured for the rest of the season and Scott Kashket is missing too but deadline-day recruits Tristan Abrahams and Aiden O'Brien have beefed up the Priestfield attack

Lewis Walker’s season is over and another Gillingham striker faces weeks out of action after injury - prompting a deadline move for Tristan Abrahams.

Gills manager Neil Harris explained the surprise loan signing of Abrahams, 24, and gave an insight into the hectic last few hours of Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.

With both Walker (knee) and fellow striker Scott Kashket (groin) injured, Harris knew he needed another forward but with money tight - financial fair play meant even newly-rich Gills couldn’t go mad - and time running out, they turned to a striker that Harris had been looking at signing in the summer.

Abrahams was just about to go and warm-up for Eastleigh as they were facing Barnet in the National League that night.

Harris said: “We were going to be light upfront - two lads who might have helped us this season (got injured) - so it was important we added at the top end of the pitch.

“We thought Tristan wouldn’t be an option but it materialsed quickly and just before he was about to take the pitch for Eastleigh. He had to dash up here about 9.15pm to start his medical.

“It was left-field, a random one how it came about, but we are really pleased we did it.

“I had spoken to Tristan in the summer, quite early on and I had watched a couple of his games. For whatever reason it didn’t materialise in the summer, that was fine.

“When it was brought up on deadline day, really randomly about being available on loan, because we got to a stage where we wouldn’t pay fees for people for various reasons, financial fair play being one, but also (the owners) Brad and Shannon Galinson have invested a lot in the last four weeks.

“We had loans available. We went down that route and it was sensible business.

“Tristan has a huge