Jorge Hurtado’s brief appearance was a positive from a disappointing Saturday and his quality has already been noted by his new Gillingham team-mates.
Defender Conor Masterson liked what he’d seen in training ahead of their weekend game against Walsall – which finished in a 1-1 draw – and believes the livewire Columbian forward will be one to watch for the Gills.
More: Head coach backs defender after mistakes
Hurtado came on as a 63rd-minute substitute and instantly made things happen in a game that had seen the Gills fail to get the better of their mid-table visitors.
“Jorge is a bag of tricks,” said Masterson, who fired in an equaliser for the Gills. “He looks good and we are happy to have him. He’s a really good player.
“He is a tricky guy, like we saw on Saturday where he sat a few people down. He is one to watch I think!
“Jorge trained for the first time last week and he had a bit about him and it’s nice, it’s something different, he is very skilful, that kind of South American style, it’s nice to have him here.
“Let’s see what he can bring and what (fellow new signings) Josh (Andrews) can bring and Josh Walker as well. It’s exciting times for the Gills and we’re looking forward to it.”
Hurtado’s weekend performance will have given head coach Stephen Clemence something to think about ahead of their Friday night visit to Notts County.
More: Injury update on Gills’ new signing
Masterson was already looking ahead to that game in Nottingham, shortly after the disappointment following a drawn game against Walsall.
He said: “It’s massive and it’s one we’re really looking forward to. We want to win the game and we believe that we can do that.
“You have to keep moving forward and working hard and we are only one point outside of the play-offs with a big game ahead against Notts County, who are in the play-off place, so if we beat them, you never know.”
Masterson’s equaliser on Saturday came after Walsall had taken the lead from the penalty spot. The Gills struggled to impose their game on the visitors and had to settle for a point.
He said: “First half we weren’t good enough, not anywhere near our levels and we were lucky to come in 0-0 at half time. Second half we were much better, much more like ourselves, okay we lost a goal, but we showed great character to come back.
“We had a few good opportunities at 1-1, big chances, and we missed them, obviously we are disappointed not to get the three points but we’re only one off the play-offs.
“I had a chance and Shad (Ogie) had an unbelievable chance but it is what it is. We had a chat on Friday as a whole group and we were saying that we have probably lost too many games where we should have drawn so when we’re looking back now this point will help us.
Reaction: “We all got frustrated in the end”
“We all want to win, us as players and coaching staff, we want to win and make the fans proud, we don’t want to let them down, but I thought Walsall was a tough game, we knew it would be, a physical team, decent players, they caused us problems and I think when you look overall at the end of the game maybe a draw was fair.
“They knew what they were doing and they are a well-structured team and hard to beat, they were putting us under pressure and we had to deal with it, we did deal with it but not to the level that we should have.
“ It took the gaffer coming in at half-time to help us and give us some new ideas and we showed that second half.
“We are disappointed we didn’t win the game but maybe the point will help us. We’re not going to get too downbeat on it because we have massive games coming up.”
Masterson took his goal tally to four for the season with his weekend effort – firing home from close range.
He said: “I found myself between the posts, that is what I keep telling myself, right place, right time again.
“From set-pieces and throws, I’m just trying to keep myself around the box, around the area where I think it is going to fall for me.
“It was on my left foot, I just smashed it if I’m being honest, I’d seen it fall and said, ‘yeah, I’m walloping this!’
“It’s a great feeling in front of our fans to score and we are just a little disappointed we didn’t give them all three points but from a personal level it’s really nice to score.”
