Steve Lovell insists Elliott List’s time on the sidelines is only temporary.

The young forward is currently out of the starting line-up, with his last six appearances coming off the bench.

He wasn’t involved in the 2-2 draw at Luton and Lovell is reluctant to change his forward line while they remain such a threat.

The front two of Tom Eaves and Brandon Hanlan caused league leaders Luton plenty of problems last weekend and Lovell said: “He just has to keep himself going.

“He is unfortunate to be out of the team but he is out of the team because the other two are doing very well and we are getting results. Hopefully that continues.

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“Being perfectly selfish that is the way I want it. It doesn’t help him at all, but he understands.

“He is a great pro and he’s going to be a great player. He will go on to better things.

“He trains hard, he works hard and he knows that his opportunity could come Saturday. It could come at any time.”

Eaves headed home his 19th goal of the season at Luton as the Gills took a point off the leaders.

“He was excellent on Saturday,” said Lovell.

“He has been good all season. He does frustrate me, being a centre forward, but that’s just me. I am always on to him about getting into the areas he needs to be getting into.

“I watched the game back on Saturday and he was excellent. He was getting in the box, for most of the things going in he was around the right areas, him and Brandon, that was the pleasing thing. He wasn’t going making runs to the wing.

“Those two caused Luton no ends of problems and their manager (Mick Harford) at the end of the game said it was the first time (in a 24-game unbeaten run) he thought they were going to lose because of the way we played.

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“He was really complimentary about us and so he should be, we played well.

“They are a good side but we dealt with them defensively and caused them problems going forward.”

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