Loanee Ricky Holmes will be given every chance to play minutes for Gillingham once he is fit – whether they are safe from relegation or not.

Playmaker Holmes was signed on loan from Sheffield United at the end of January but has yet to feature for the club.

The Gills knew Holmes was injured when they signed him but there were hopes he would have been back playing by now. The 31-year-old was originally targeting the game against Oxford a month ago to return to action.

Gillingham’s relegation fears might be over before he kicks a ball for the club but Lovell is happy to help the player’s recovery from injury – with one eye on next season.

Lovell said: “It is a frustrating one and we all we want him to play. We want to get him in the squad and to get a run-out.

“He is here because we thought he had a chance of playing and we are still hopeful.

“We wanted to do him a favour by coming here and trying to prove his fitness and get him games. He wasn’t going to get that at Oxford anymore (where he had been on loan previously).

“We have looked after him and done everything possible to get him fit and we are still doing that. If there is a chance of him playing a few games for us this season then we will continue to do what we’re doing. because we could maybe be looking for him next year, if things don’t work out at Sheffield United.

“If he gets himself into a position where he is fit enough then we would love to have him here. We want to do things properly and he wants to do things properly but we can only do it when he gets himself fit to play. If that happens then we can talk about the next phase, but until that happens we have to crack on and do what we’ve doing.

“He likes it here and he likes being around the place and training with us. We get on really well.

“I am just disappointed for him that he is not playing because he is a true professional and he wants to play. He is the type that we would love to have at this football club and I think that is the reason why we are going down this road.

“I would love him to get through this injury and be a part of next year. That is something I am still hopeful we can do.

“When he turns around and says he is ready to play then happy days. He has been murder against us, we all know he can do and we see what he brings to training, he will be an excellent acquisition for us but we have to get through this and see where we are.”

Holmes has been suffering with a back problem which has led to pain in his leg. He’s been in training for several weeks but Lovell is unable to pinpoint an exact return date.

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“It is up and down every day, every day is different,” Lovell said.

“It could be alright Saturday, it might not, it could be next week but it might not.

“He is training flat out and we have to monitor it when the weekend comes, to see where we are at.”

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