Tom Eaves fired himself back into the reckoning at the weekend.

Gillingham’s leading scorer started on the bench again at Shrewsbury but came to the rescue for Steve Lovell’s side with a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

It’s five goals this season now for Eaves.

Lovell said: “When our top goalscorer comes on and gets a goal, he has to be in the frame again.

“I am pleased for him; he knows what the situation is. I did it last year, I left him out for a few games and he came back with some goals. Hopefully it will be the same again.

“He makes an impact when he starts as well – it is just sometimes he has that inconsistency.

“I said to him before the game, 'you know the reason why you are not in the team'. I needed for him to take a break, a little bit of a back seat and he comes back refreshed. He went on and got the goal.

“Tom brings us something that the opposition centre-halves don’t like. He took his goal really well.

“It is now about how he trains again this week. We should have a few players back from injury and it will give me a little more to choose from.”

Brandon Hanlan scored Gills’ opener, his second of the season. He partnered Eaves in the second half after Josh Parker was withdrawn,

Lovell added: “Tom gave us something a bit different to what Josh brings us, that was the reasoning for putting him on.

“Him and Brandon worked well up there. Josh did a good job when he was on but we have to make decisions, same with Dean Parrett. He had and a good game but I had to try and change it.”

Eaves' goal ensured that the Gills ended their losing run in the league, which looked to be heading for five in a row before the late leveller.

Lovell’s men now need to find a win, however, having gone eight without success in League 1.

They remain in the bottom four after the weekend.

Lovell said: “The boys showed great character and great spirit. They dug in, had a go and got the point.

“They have kept going through the difficult times we are going through, they showed they all have heart and want to do well. All you can ask of them is to go out and give everything and that is what they are doing.”