Manager Steve Evans is thrilled to see Jack Tucker shining again in a Gillingham shirt.

The central defender scored the opening goal on Saturday in the 3-1 win over Ipswich Town but most importantly managed to frustrate some quality strikers.

Tucker struggled for consistency in the early part of the season, not helped by a flurry of new partners in the centre of defence. Since he’s been paired with Bristol City loanee Robbie Cundy he’s managed to return to his best.

“It was brilliant to see young Jack Tucker open the scoring on Saturday,” Evans said.

“It was his first goal in competitive football. He scored in the EFL Trophy but I don’t think managers recognise that but they do competitive games. It was a fantastic strike and he was really good.

“I have been saying for a couple of weeks now, he is back to his best. He is a confidence player and he has that confidence again.

“He is one of our own, that is what the supporters would be singing if they were with us.

“He needs to continue to listen, learn and implement, a promising career lays ahead if he does.

“It was a top class performance against a top class striker in James Norwood. He was superbly assisted by Robbie Cundy, another youngster now improving with each game.”

Christian Maghoma, Zech Medley and Declan Drysdale have all partnered Tucker at the back as Evans looked for a reliable pairing following Max Ehmer’s departure to Bristol Rovers in the summer.

Cundy’s arrival has certainly been a big help for Tucker.

Assistant boss Paul Raynor, speaking about Cundy’s role in Tucker’s return to form, said: “All season Jack Tucker has not had a consistent partner. That was important.

“We changed it, we tried to find a solution and we identified that Robbie would give us a little bit of what Max Ehmer gave us last year, that hunger and determination, winning that first ball and he has brought that to the table, that seems to have helped Jack Tucker as well.

“There is a settled partnership, they trust each other and know each other’s game and are beginning to look like a decent partnership but let’s not get carried away, they have done well but they will have another tough game against Fleetwood (on Tuesday).

“We are delighted for the pair but it’s about all of them. We need to appreciate all of the guys back there, not just the middle two.”

Tucker, speaking to the press post-match, highlighted the benefit of having a regular and reliable partner alongside him.

He said: “Robbie has helped massively. It has given me the opportunity to play with the same partner every week which I haven't had all season, with different guys coming in and playing alongside me.

“It is nice to have two of us who have settled into that role, we thrive off each other, me and Robbie, we know what to expect from each other’s game.”

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