Wilko puts himself back in the frame
Gillingham
Gillingham striker Conor Wilkinson has worked his way back into the reckoning.
A midweek practice-game hattrick came after positive talks with caretaker boss Steve Lovell on Monday.
Wilkinson had been an unused substitute in Gillingham’s last two matches but is now set to give top scorer Tom Eaves more of a challenge for the role up front.
Lovell, who remains in charge of the Gills on a temporary basis ahead of their weekend trip to Rotherham, said: “In training he has been on fire. I had a big word with Conor, a massive word with him, because he’s a talent.
“I have said before he is a talent but he has got to run around. He can do it. Since I have had a go at him, he has rolled his sleeves up and had a go, and he scored a hat-trick in a training game on Tuesday.
“I said to him, ‘if you are going to get into my team then that is what I want you to do’. He has responded and that is what I want from all Abellio-SFA rider Mike Piper has shattered his own club record. Piper (pictured), competing in the final Kent Group time trial of the year, had ambitions to beat his 15-mile time set at Newbury in July 2015. He delivered in the VTTA 15 on the Q15/1 Hamstreet course, taking 1min 10sec off his previous record to finish in 31.38. He ended up first vet on scratch and was only one second down on the fastest senior rider, Neil Lauder, averaging 28.45mph. players, a response.”
Lovell named him on the bench for last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Northampton but overlooked him when Eaves was withdrawn through fatigue.
“On Saturday I still didn’t know what I was going to get out of him,” added Lovell.
“His response has been first class. He is a talented boy and I want talent in my team.
“If he continues the way he is training then it gives Tom Eaves a little bit of a kick up the backside to know that Conor is behind him.”
There have been a flurry of players backing Lovell to get the manager’s job full-time, with captain Lee Martin, experienced defender Gabriel Zakuani and midfielder Billy Bingham among those who have given him the thumbs up.
It’s been a successful two-way relationship so far, says Lovell.
“I know my own ability and what I can do,” he said.
“Getting that across to the players is the most important thing. They are starting to believe what we’re trying to do.
“They have their say too. I ask them all the time about things, if there is anything we can do to improve the training, or anything they enjoy.
“The shape work, the way I want us to play, is down to me, but I want them to enjoy it.”
Former defender Ian Cox will be back in the dugout with youth boss Mark Patterson this weekend to help Lovell, after being unavailable last Saturday.
Jason Lillis stepped in to assist for the Northampton game.
Lovell said: “Coxy has been a good player here and I respect his views, as I do Mark Patterson’s and Jason’s.
“Ultimately the buck stops with me, I make the decisions and live and die by the sword.”