Jayden Clarke joined the Gills as a “project” and the winger admits he’s still got plenty to learn.
It’s been an eventful start to the season for the former Dulwich Hamlet forward, enjoying a good pre-season, criticised for a miss at Fleetwood, but bouncing back with a brace of goals on Saturday.
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Clarke, who was an academy player at Tottenham, joined the Gills in January 2023, a player that recruitment boss Andy Hessenthaler felt was worthy of a chance in the Football League after impressing in the non-league ranks.
It was former boss Neil Harris who described Clarke as a project, with “real potential for the future.”
On Saturday the 23-year-old bagged his first goals in the Football League – just a week after making his 50th appearance for the club.
“I was happy with the two goals,” he said, having come off the bench to give Gillingham the legs they needed to offer a counter-attack option with 10 men.
“When any team goes down to 10 men, I think the game plan kind of changes into a counter-attacking game, and that’s what the manager said to me and Jacob Wakeling when coming on.
“(The manager said) we needed to obviously help out defensively, but to use our legs to get forward when we did get the ball and I think the two goals came off the counter-attack. I think we did what he asked.
“It was a good day and it was great play from Marcus (Wyllie). I’m thankful to him for assisting both of them.”
On making it to 50 appearances he said: “Obviously, coming from non-league where I was, I think it’s a good achievement and hopefully I can build on it and get as many more as I can.
“When I first came in, I think the first five months or so, I was just around the team, getting used to it.
“Last season was my first full season and even now, I think I’m still learning a lot about being in the Football League and I’m just trying to show what I know I’m capable of. In due time.”
In football, it’s about taking your chances.
Joe Gbode took his a week ago at Doncaster. Gbode wasn’t meant to be in the squad but a late injury to Bradley Dack led to him getting a place on the bench and making such an impression as a late substitute that he won a start against Tranmere on Saturday – taking the spot on the left flank off Clarke.
There was no sulking for Clarke, however. He clapped Gbode off on 66 minutes, along with most of the stadium after another impressive showing and then set about making his own impact.
Two breakaway goals sealed a 3-0 win, timing his runs to perfection from Wyllie passes with finishes on 82 and 89 minutes. The second wasn’t as clinical as the first but they both ended up in the net.
Clarke, who was reminded of the miss at Fleetwood when interviewed, said: “The first one was quite quick. I didn’t have a lot of time to think, but the second one I had quite a bit of time. (The Fleetwood chance) flashed through my brain, but luckily the keeper spilled it. Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and I finally got it, so I was happy with the two goals.
“It was a massive result. We also went down to 10 (men) against Chesterfield and we showed that we can hold on, and we did the same. It’s good and it’s going to help build spirit, it shows that we’ve got a lot of fight in us, and it’s not going to be easy to come here and get three points.”
On the man he replaced, Gbode, he said: “I think he was man-of-the-match. I think he was the best player on the pitch.
“He was a constant threat, definitely had the better of their right back and I’m happy for him. He’s a young boy, only 19, but he’s definitely ready to play at this level.
“I was (playing) in the same position but I was really happy for Joe to be starting and playing as well as he did.
“Whether you’re starting or not, you’ve got to be ready to have an impact on the game. You should never get too down if you get replaced in the team.
“Last week before the game, Joe wasn’t even meant to be in the squad and then this week he’s starting, so football changes really quickly. You’ve Just got to be ready, really.”
Manager Mark Bonner had called Clarke aside for a one-to-one chat in the week, telling him to back his own ability and to forget any doubters.
Clarke said: “He’s putting a lot of confidence in me, telling me what I can do to improve. He’s been really helpful. So I’m grateful to him for that.”
Any stick on Saturday came from the away fans and Clarke was only too happy to send them some love after his second goal, blowing them a kiss.
He said: “They gave it a little bit to me when I was down in that corner and then I scored. So just a friendly hello back, that’s all.
“I’m just happy to get off the mark and hopefully I can build on that.”
Next up is a top-of-the-table clash at Notts County and Clarke’s looking forward to the tussle.
He said: “They’re a good side, a good possession-based footballing side. We’re just going to have to go there and put on another good performance.
“We’re just as good as them, no-one’s better than us. We need to try and show that on the pitch when it comes to it.”
