Gillingham manager Steve Evans rules out return for QPR striker Charlie Kelman
22:00, 20 November 2021
updated: 10:56, 21 November 2021
Gillingham won’t be bringing back QPR loan striker Charlie Kelman despite their lack of numbers.
Kelman was sent back to the Championship club early but can’t play for anyone else after agreeing a deal with the Gills that lasts until January. Boss Steve Evans says the QPR player and the two out on loan won’t be called upon.
Defender Christian Maghoma is on loan at Eastleigh and midfielder Henry Woods is playing for Dover. Kelman is playing under-23 football for QPR and recently bagged a hat-trick after returning.
Evans shut down any suggestion of the young QPR striker coming back, saying: “Kelman is not an option, that is just not happening.”
Gillingham are using the money from loaning their players out elsewhere and so that’s not an option either.
Evans explained: “The other two loan players are window to window, they went out and let’s not forget they went out to free funds up to bring other players in, that is not just Gillingham Football Club, that is Peterborough, Man Utd, people are loaned out because a contribution of their wages are being used to facilitate players coming in.
“Christian and Henry went out and we were able to sign one or two of who we brought in.”
Gillingham have been turning to their youth team to bolster their numbers in recent weeks. Bailey Akehurst, Joe Gbode and Sam Gale have all been involved, as have first year pros Harvey Lintott and Gerald Sithole. All five were in the squad at Crewe on Saturday.
Evans said: “As summed up by Paul Raynor (the assistant manager), some of those youngsters wouldn’t have made our bench for the under-23s last season and suddenly they are playing League 1 football.
“What we are going to have to do is keep working with them and keep encouraging them and we have to keep having a real positivity with them. As long as I am manager of them that is the message that will get through.”
Robbie McKenzie returned to the Gills team on Saturday but went off again with an ankle injury, leaving him doubtful for the midweek match with Cheltenham. David Tutonda, Rhys Bennett, Alex MacDonald, Kyle Dempsey, Olly Lee, Ben Reeves, Danny Lloyd and Vadaine Oliver are all receiving treatment.
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