Gillingham striker Oli Hawkins won’t feature in Saturday’s friendly against Dagenham after suffering injury set-back and others could be missing too

There was a set-back for striker Oli Hawkins as he attempted to return from injury this week.

Hawkins has missed much of pre-season with a heel injury and his return to action in a friendly at Cambridge United on Tuesday didn’t last long.

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Gillingham manager Neil Harris said: “He played some minutes at Cambridge and it didn’t go very well. He didn’t last long. We had to withdraw him again.”

The striker is expected to be out for a few more weeks now, although no exact time-frame has been declared, but he certainly won’t be available for the weekend match at Dagenham.

Saturday’s game will be the last run-out for Harris’ senior side before they kick off their League 2 campaign at Stockport on August 5.

Hawkins might not be the only one missing on Saturday as Harris admitted they’ve picked up several knocks recently.

He said: “Over the course of the last seven days we’ve picked up more injuries in 48 hours that we picked up in probably five months of football.

“It is standard over the course of pre-season (to get knocks), not ideal, but I think it will be clearer when you see the squad on Saturday and a reminder to all of us, me included, that you need options throughout the season.”

The Gills will be up against some familiar faces on Saturday.

National League side Dagenham - managed by former Gillingham Ben Strevens - have just signed left-back Lewis Page, who departed the Gills this summer, while ex-Priestfield midfielder Jake Hessenthaler has also joined them, linking back up with his cousin Josh Hare.

Josh Rees is another former Gillingham player to have signed for the Daggers in the close season.

Gillingham could hand newly-signed striker Ashley Nadesan his first taste of action after