Gillingham manager Steve Lovell is backing big striker Tom Eaves to reach 20 goals this season.

Eaves made it eight for the season on Tuesday night after heading home a 90th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Blackpool.

Twenty goals was a target set by Eaves in the summer.

Lovell, himself a former Gills striker, said: “I would back him, as long as he stays safe from injury and suspensions, which he is quite likely to get because he is a battering ram up there.

“If not 20, he will get near to 20 and will have deserved it. It was a brave finish (on Tuesday).

“Tom deserved his goal because he worked hard. We could have won it in the end with a good header but the keeper made a good save. Apart from his goals, he gives us so much and the more the game went on, the fitter he looked.

“He is a fit boy and does so much running for us, not just with the ball but without it and it is great to see him getting the goals because he deserves it.

“Centre forwards who work hard defensively as well deserve to get their goals. He has eight already, which isn’t a bad return for a team that has been just outside or inside the bottom four.

“He will get more goals, as will the other strikers. All of our front-line will get goals because of the way we play.

“We do try and create things and get the ball in the box. When we do, we look like scoring. Hopefully, there are a lot more goals to come.”