Gillingham head into the weekend without a defeat in their last 19 league games and the manager knows there’s still a lot more to come.
The Gills sit top of League 2 ahead of their home game against Notts County this Saturday.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth has had to slowly introduce many of his summer signings into his squad, with the latest attacking recruits Garath McCleary and Jonny Smith needing time to get up to full speed.
Summer signing Sam Vokes has eased his way in after a fractured arm left him unable to have a full pre-season, while fellow newcomer Seb Palmer-Houlden has yet to feature after pulling a hamstring injury in their final pre-season game.
Winger Aaron Rowe hasn’t started a match after an injury-hit summer while Euan Williams hasn’t tasted any action yet this term after suffering a shoulder injury shortly after returning from the off-season break.
Both Williams and defender Shad Ogie are expected back soon, and Ainsworth is excited to get Palmer-Houlden back involved.
“We saw glimpses of Seb’s work rate in pre-season and it was great,” said the manager.
“He knows he’s got to wait his turn now because the boys are grabbing it by the horns and going, ‘I want to play, I want to play every week, I’m going to give you my all,’ and that’s what I’m after. It’s going to be tough for me.
“Shadrach’s coming back and I think when he went out of the team, he was one of the top interception winners in the league at the time. It’s so good to have these players of this calibre back.
“Euan Williams is not far away at all now either, out on the grass. It’s really great to see them all out there end enjoying it.
Bradley Dack missed the Bromley game with a knee injury and midfielder Ethan Coleman and Armani Little picked up knocks in the game.
Ainsworth said on Thursday that some players were still being nursed through after a tough game last weekend.
It was a match that saw Marcus Wyllie and loan defender Travis Akomeah miss out.
Ainsworth said: “There’s not many people doing anything wrong at the moment.
“Probably the last thing Marcus Wyllie did was score a goal in the Vertu Trophy match, and then before that against Chesterfield he scored a goal. I’ve got some really, really tough decisions.
“Travis comes in (against Fulham under-21s in the Trophy) and doesn’t really put a foot wrong. But I’m fair, and none of the other players have put one wrong to deserve to be out of the team yet.
“The hard bit is probably making the boys understand, But that’s my job. I’m going to shy away from it. I’ve never shied away from confrontation, whether it was a challenge on the pitch or a debate off the pitch.
“I’m not always right, but I’m in charge because people want me to put my decisions in there. That’s the way it’s got to be, and it is tough sometimes because I’ve got a lot of empathy, and I’ve been in that position. I feel for these players because everyone just wants to play and show what they can do. We’ll try and share it up as much as we can.”
Commenting on others in his squad, the manager said: “Garath is still building up. He had an injury in pre-season.
“Aaron Rowe’s getting about there now, which is great. Sam Vokes, 35 years old, he’s coming on and I think the reason Josh Andrews is playing so well at the moment is because Sam’s guiding him and mentoring him, both of them two are competing for that position. I love my big man, but also you don’t always have to play with a big men.
“Johnny (Smith) has missed a lot of football. He hasn’t played a great deal of games this season at Wigan.
“It’s all about the balance and the timing of when you put people in for starts, when you bring them off the bench.
“It’s quite a juggling of many factors and you’ve got to get them right. Often you don’t, but sometimes you do.
“We’ve got a strong, deep squad, even though we’ve only got this 21, really, that I talk about but it’s deep enough for me, with quality throughout.”
Conor Masterson is the only player out long-term after picking up an injury in just the second game, which has left him on crutches.
Ainsworth’s not been able to offer a time-frame for the injury yet but Akomeah’s arrival from Watford until January means that have that extra cover in central defence.
“Conor’s still in the infancy of his injury,” Ainsworth said.
“He’s going to take his time. I don’t want to put any pressure on Conor.
“He’ll be back when he’s ready, but Travis stepping in at the moment is a great deputy for Conor, and I’m sure he’s learning a lot being here.”
