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Bristol City loan midfielder James Morton is among those Gillingham manager Steve Evans wants to see more from

Gillingham manager Steve Evans has urged some of those players on the outside looking in to up the tempo if they want to get involved.

James Morton is one of them, the Bristol City midfielder has only made an 89th minute substitute appearance since signing on loan at the end of the January transfer window. Matty Willock, meanwhile, hasn’t started a match in the league this season.

James Morton has only played 10 minutes for the Gills since signing on loan from Bristol City Picture: Keith Gillard
James Morton has only played 10 minutes for the Gills since signing on loan from Bristol City Picture: Keith Gillard

Evans rates them both highly but it’s down to those players to show the hunger and desire that some of the more experienced players have been displaying of late.

Fellow midfielders Stuart O’Keefe and Kyle Dempsey are playing with the kind of attitude Evans demands from anyone pulling on a shirt in one of his teams.

“We can only play one way,” said the Gills boss. “We have had that in our dressing room for years. We sign certain players to play a style and a way and that is why some players come in and can’t adapt to the style.

“Looking at this group, we have 11, 12, 13 players here that are playing in that style, in that way and we are trying to drag some younger players with them. We are trying to drag the Willocks and the James Mortons who came in from Bristol City, a fantastic player but that tempo of the way we play is not quite there, that aggressiveness at times when we are chasing the game down.

Gillingham manager Steve Evans wants to see more from some of his squad members Picture: Keith Gillard
Gillingham manager Steve Evans wants to see more from some of his squad members Picture: Keith Gillard

Several first team players appeared in a friendly match against Braintree on Wednesday night. Christian Maghoma, Henry Woods, Morton, Willock, Robbie McKenzie and Tyreke Johnson all featured in a goalless draw.

“They are good players,” Evans continued. “But we need to get them to play with the intensity that we train and play with.

“They are training with Dempsey and Olly Lee, Stuart O’Keefe - who for me was the best player on the park (against MK Dons on Tuesday) - and you see the intensity of those guys. They are prepared to climb a 10 feet wall in bare feet.

“What is not in question with Willock and Morton and others is their ability, they have fantastic ability, but do they want it enough? Those lads out there at the minute they want it enough, they have demonstrated it. It is not good coming in my office and saying you want it and then not doing it.”

Read more on the Gills;

O'Keefe: Let's make it a great week!

'We failed to deal with the Gillingham weapon'

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