Steve Evans reckons Ben Pringle may have benefited from fatherhood.

The Gills boss handed Pringle only his third league start on Wednesday - he had been an unused substitute in the previous eight games - after looking back to his best on the training ground.

He responded with a fine display against Shrewsbury. The Gills won the match 2-0.

Evans, speaking about his decision to bring Pringle back into the team, said: “He has not been deserving to play. His performances in training weren’t anywhere near where they should be.

“But two weeks ago, or maybe a little longer, Ben had a baby and life settles down again doesn't it? All of a sudden we see Ben getting stronger and fitter.

“I had earmarked Rochdale (last Saturday) for him to play but we had a little change of system, that never really worked for us, as we know, but if you are a manager and you don’t try to affect things positively you will never be successful.

“Some of his crossing was like when he played for my Rotherham team, when he was player-of-the-year and when he went off and earned himself fortunes.”

Pringle was a key man for Rotherham, playing under Evans, as they rose from League 2 to the Championship in successive seasons.

He went onto play for Fulham and a number of other teams before dropping back down to play for the Gills.

Evans said: “He is a good kid, he is fit now, and he works hard. We recognised that and what we say to the players is that we pick the team with the opposition in mind and we pick it on what they are producing in training.

"We pick it when there is a real consistency with their weight and body fats and sports science is massively important to us. Ben has been ticking that box for a couple of weeks now.

“I said to him after Rochdale he would be really down after not getting on the pitch and he was. I had a long chat with him on Monday in the office to say he would get his chance on Wednesday.”

Assistant boss Paul Raynor hopes Pringle will now keep his standards high, adding: “Ben has been desperate to get his chance.

“He has been unfortunate. Tom O’Connor came in (on loan from Southampton) and did extremely well. We changed the shape a bit at Rochdale, it didn’t quite work and Ben was unlucky not to start that game, but it was made for him to come in and do a very, very good job (on Wednesday).

“He has set his standard now. He knows he can’t let those standards drop and has to be ready to go again when we come back into training for the Burton game (next weekend).”

Another midfielder, Matty Willock, also impressed against Shrewsbury, coming on for the second half.

Raynor said: “He has been so frustrated and for us as well, because we know what he can add to the team. We have seen what he has got, he has a lot of quality, a lot of energy, a lot of athleticism and he will get better as well. It was just great to get him on the pitch.

“He will certainly add something to the party between now and the end of the season.”

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