Young guns join Gills on loan
00:00, 10 March 2005
updated: 11:12, 10 March 2005
Leeds v Gillingham
GILLINGHAM have boosted their squad with the addition of Blackburn pair Jonathan Douglas and Jamie McEveley.
The duo go straight into the squad to face play-off chasing Leeds on Saturday and arrive at Priestfield on a month’s loan.
Assistant manager Ronnie Jepson believes the signings will be a welcome boost to the squad. He said: "They’ve had a good upbringing at Blackburn and will bring a youthfulness to the team.
"They will be a good addition. Both are decent players and hopefully they will fit into the squad and we’ll just have to see where we go from there."
McEveley, an England under-20 international, has been in and out of Rovers’ team having made four appearances.
The left-back previously spent a loan spell with Burnley under Stan Ternent, although injury brought the deal to a premature end.
Republic of Ireland international Douglas will add extra class to central midfield, with 14 Premiership appearances to his name this season.
Gillingham head back to Yorkshire looking to make it three wins in a row as the relegation fights hots up.
Victories over Championship leaders Wigan and hapless Rotherham have given Gills a fighting chance of clawing their way out of trouble.
Jepson said: "Leeds have got a good squad and some good players. But we’ve got a good set of pros here, who will give everything and hopefully get the odd break and come away with something.
"You can’t predict the outcome of the match, we’ll just go there well organised and well prepared. And if the lads play as they have been doing in the last few weeks, then they’ll be no problems."
The last time Gills won three in a row was in December 2002, after beating Burnley 4-2.
Scoring for Gills on that day was Marlon King, who is in line for his Leeds debut on Saturday after signing on loan from Nottingham Forest.
Club captain Paul Smith is all too aware of the threat King poses but is sure the players will stand up to the test.
He said: "King can score goals and he’s quality and loves making decent runs. Whether he starts or not I don’t know – but maybe they’ll throw him in as it’s against us.
"We played against him when he was at Forest and the lads know what he’s about and how to handle him."
Smith, who had no idea about the two new additions to the squad, was still pleased to see their arrival. He said: "They are a couple of young lads and they will give us more energy and hopefully it should help us."
Both Nyron Nosworthy and John Hills return from suspension for the Leeds trip, while Darren Byfield (stomach) and Ian Cox (hamstring) are well on the road to recovery.
Barry Ashby (ankle) and Alan Pouton (back) both miss out, while Danny Spiller is still suffering the affects of flu.
Jepson spoke to KM-fm about the club's two new loan signings...