Cody McDonald compared Bradley Dack with David Beckham after the Gills youngster’s performance against Port Vale.

Dack, 20, set up all three goals in the victory at Priestfield, including two headers from Adebayo Akinfenwa.

McDonald said: “That cross for the second goal, I think Beckham would have been happy with that one.

“He’s just whipped it in a treat. He’s been superb in training. He deserved a start and he’s come up with the goods.”

McDonald also praised Akinfenwa and believes his strike partner will continue to benefit from Dack’s deliveries.

He added: “Bayo’s so powerful and if Dacky keeps putting in balls like that, he’ll be scoring every week.

“He knows how to stick them away and defenders just can’t deal with him when he’s in that mood.

“Not only his two goals, off the ball he was superb and I was happy when he got a standing ovation at the end because he deserved it.”

McDonald, who scored Gills’ third, is happy with his form and wants to add to his 11 goals in 31 appearances at Stevenage on Tuesday night.

He said: “As a striker, you’re always confident if you’re scoring goals and thankfully I’ve been scoring goals recently.

“I’ve missed a few chances as well. I could probably have 15 goals but that’s the way it goes.

“As long as I keep getting in the positions, hopefully I’ll keep scoring. It’s important when you’re scoring, to keep playing.

“Hopefully the manager’s got the same idea and he keeps me in the team. If he wants to change it around, I respect that but I’m ready to go on Tuesday if picked.”