Gillingham striker Conor Wilkinson has worked his way back into the reckoning.

A midweek practice-game hat-trick 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 players, a response.”

Lovell named him on the bench for last Saturday’s game against Northampton but overlooked him when Eaves was withdrawn through fatigue.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.”

Read more in this Thursday's Medway Messenger newspaper