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

The 25-year-old trained on Thursday and Friday afternoon with the Gills squad and is expected to start in goal against Sunderland on Saturday, following the injury picked up by Jack Bonham on Tuesday against Ipswich Town.

Lumley, who has started over 80 first team games for QPR, has also had plenty of experience in the EFL.

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

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

Manager Steve Evans said: “Our supporters will be aware that we had to take Jack Bonham off at Ipswich and the result of that was a little bit of concussion and therefore the medial advice, in the whole one million per cent interest of the player, he has to be excused for a period of seven consecutive days.

“Therefore, he would be unavailable to be selected for the match against Sunderland. The one thing we have always been aware of is that we might have to move into the market for a goalkeeper because we only carry Jack Bonham and a youngster in Joe Walsh, who incidentally played very well on Tuesday and he will play many more games, and big games, for the Gills in his future.

“Joe Lumley is a keeper who has played against my teams, and I have watched perform many times, he is an excellent goalkeeper. 

“I quickly spoke to Mark Warburton [manager] and he agreed we could have Joe on an emergency loan basis, subject to the player agreeing. I was then allowed permission 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 he wanted to be here.

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

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