Manager Gareth Ainsworth has talked up Ronan Hale’s return to international duty after an impressive display for Gillingham.
The Gills boss praised the striker’s instinct and finishing after a standout performance on Saturday, scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Report: Gillingham 2 Tranmere 1
It was Hale’s first start at home, scoring the opener midway through the first half and heading in a second after the break.
Hale won his first senior international cap in June and, on Saturday’s form, Ainsworth reckons more could be coming.
Ainsworth said: “All he needed was a left foot goal for the perfect hat-trick but that’ll come.
“I think the first goal epitomises what Ronan does and how he anticipates and how he’s desperate to just play on that shoulder and get in behind all the time.
“Everyone thought he was offside but when you watch the replay, he’s two yards onside. He times his run fantastically well and that’s the sign of a quality striker.
“His second goal was very opportunist, right place, right time. All the big men are being marked [from the corner] and everyone’s pushing each other and holding each other. The little man steps up with the header, so I’m sure he’ll start getting marked at corners now.
“He’s a great lad. Real, real wants to succeed. I’m saying to Northern Ireland, ‘you’ve got a good one here’. If you want him in your squad, then I don’t think you can look too far [for anyone] else. He’s a real, real goal scorer.
“Ronan has been a player I’ve been a fan of for a year or so now and I saw him playing in the play-off in the Scottish Prem last season.
“He’s a really, really good player. His anticipation and his instinct of being in the right place at the right time is something you find very difficult to coach. Time after time, you feel when Ronan gets the ball, something’s going to happen. That’s the type of player we’ve brought in.
“I’m really pleased for him.”
Northern Ireland’s next scheduled match is a World Cup qualifier against Italy in March.
Despite the goals from Hale, the Gills were left defending deep late on after Charlie Whitaker’s goal for Tranmere cut the lead in half with 12 minutes left, and an additional six minutes added on.
There were some nervy moments before the Gills clinched the 2-1 win — a victory that Ainsworth felt had been coming after some good moments of late.
“They’ve dug deep,” he said. “We made it a little bit harder than it could have been, but I’m really pleased.
“We could have scored quite a few goals in that first half and it would have been more comfortable than it was.
“But, fair play to Tranmere, they came at us, with nothing to lose. It’s really hard to play against a team that’s got nothing to lose. They throw things forward at you. They play with a freedom and we’re hanging on to something.
“The boys have done brilliant in the last two games as well. I thought against Bromley, second half, better team. Notts County, second half, better team. So I’m pleased.
“Probably second half, not the better team [against Tranmere], but we’ve come away from it with a win. I’m really, really proud of the boys. They’ve run and travelled and run and run again this week.
“They’ve been through a tough week and especially on the back of playing first and second in the league and you get nothing and you do okay. Fair play to them.
“There were some real good performances in there.
“Obviously everyone talked about Ronan getting his first two goals, which is brilliant. That’s what he’s brought here to do. Just as [Glenn Morris] is brought here to save shots, he’s brought here to score goals. He’s done fantastically well taking his goals.
“He’s a poacher, something that we’ve missed. Really, really pleased he’s got off the mark.
“He was the thorn in the side in that first half as well. Him and Sam Vokes combined really well.
“It was a pleasure to see him score those two goals because he’s had some really good chances in the last few games. Ronan will be relieved himself. He’s off the mark. He’s ready to go. I’m sure we’re going to see many more from him.”
