Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is hoping to bring in a new signing to cover the problem position of the left-side of central defence.

Stimson will risk using an inexperienced loan defender after struggling to find a replacement among his own ranks for the role.

He said: "A player has become available that possibly might be able to join and the club are letting us know on Monday."

The long-term injury to Simon King has left that tricky role unoccupied and only loan defender Matt Fry has made the position his own.

He has since returned to West Ham injured and Stimson needs to take Mark Bentley out of the firing line following Saturday’s defeat at Swindon.

Bentley conceded a penalty, was booked and then immediately replaced.

Stimson said: "Mark Bentley has done absolutely brilliant for us but he would admit left centre-half is not Mark Bentley.

"That one second when he was tested, the guy for them (Pericard) used all his experience and got a good penalty out of Mark.

"I felt for Mark and I had to take him off because I didn’t want him being sent-off.

"It’s an area we have been short all season and an area we are trying to get someone in."

Stimson’s only other left-sided defender is first year professional Tom Wynter but with only brief league experience it may still be too early for a starting role.

A lack of experienced left-sided players to choose from means Stimson may have to bring in a youngster from the Premier League.

"It’s hard because there aren’t many out there," said Stimson.

"There are one or two like Matt Fry who haven’t kicked a ball in the league that are possible loans. That’s going to be a gamble, or do we bring Tom Wynter in, who has had only 30 odd minutes in the league?

"The targets I have in mind are capable of playing at this level, and the centre-halves are young and haven’t kicked a league ball yet.

"Above that there aren’t many left-sided centre-halves, or even centre-halves available, unless you go to a totally different level."

However, any new signing will not be allowed to play in the FA Cup third round tie at Accrington on Tuesday night as FA rules state that players must have been registered by noon on Friday, January 2.