Gills signs goalkeeper Joe Lumley on loan – News

The QPR goalkeeper arrives in Kent at short notice.

Gillingham have completed the signing of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Joe Lumley on an emergency loan basis.

The 25-year-old trained Thursday and Friday afternoon with Gills’ side and is set to start in goal against Sunderland on Saturday, following Jack Bonham’s injury on Tuesday against Ipswich Town.

Lumley, who has started more than 80 first-team games for QPR, also has plenty of EFL experience.

He made his professional debut in August 2014 and started three times for Mark Warburton’s men during that campaign, keeping a clean sheet against Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road in September.

Joe is expected to stay at Priestfield until Jack Bonham is cleared to return to action.

Manager Steve Evans said: “Our supporters will know that we had to withdraw Jack Bonham at Ipswich and the result was a minor concussion and therefore the medical advice, in the total one million per cent interest of the player, he must be excused for a period of seven consecutive days.

“Therefore, he would not be available to be selected for the game against Sunderland. The one thing we have always been aware of is that we may have to look to the market for a goalkeeper because we let’s just carry Jack Bonham and a youngster to Joe Walsh, who by the way played very well on Tuesday and he’ll be playing many more games, and big games, for the Gills in his future.

“Joe Lumley is a goalkeeper who has played against my teams, and I have seen many performances, he is a great goalkeeper.

“I quickly spoke to Mark Warburton [manager] and he agreed that we could have Joe on emergency loan, subject to the player agreeing. I was then cleared by Les Ferdinand to speak to the player, I did, and the minute he picked up the phone, and QPR had already told the boy what the option was, he immediately said that he wanted to be here.

“He trained yesterday, and again today, and he joins Joe Walsh to be the two goalkeepers who will be selected tomorrow.

“I would like to thank everyone at QPR and especially my good friend Mark Warburton for sanctioning the emergency loan.”