Gillingham striker Dominic Samuel could be fit enough to return for the end of season run-in.

The injured striker was out warming up on the grass ahead of Gillingham’s game with Doncaster Rovers on Saturday and boss Steve Evans is optimistic he can play some games before the end of the campaign.

Samuel, 26, suffered a hamstring tear in December that required an operation but he’s taken a giant stride in his rehabilitation by returning to the grass.

The former Blackburn striker moved to the Gills in September and scored within three minutes of coming back to the club, having enjoyed a successful loan spell in 2015/16.

Prior to his injury he had scored six goals in 19 appearances and with the Gills unable to add to their attacking options in January, manager Steve Evans will welcome his return.

“He is probably two or three weeks away,” said Evans. “He is in the early stages of being back on the grass and you could see [on Saturday] we were limited with what we could do off the bench in the front areas.

“If Dominic can come back for the last three or four weeks then he might score a goal or two and be vital for us. We have missed him.”

The Gills had a flurry of injuries in the first half of the season but those have eased of late. The only main man missing at present, other than Samuel, is Callum Slattery.

Evans made changes to his squad in January, switching most of his loan options, and since then the team has largely been unchanged. Since mid-January, when they won at Accrington, the manager has used just 15 players in his starting line-ups.

Spending on quality rather than quantity is working out while his squad remain fit.

Evans said: “That is why when people say ‘how can you be the bottom budget Steve?’ Count the players.”

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