Gillingham assistant boss Paul Raynor admits he wouldn’t be surprised if clubs come in for winger Jordan Graham this month.

The former Wolves forward has been Gills’ standout player this season and he returned from a spell out injured last Saturday with another eye-catching performance.

Graham has netted six goals for the Gills and teed up plenty more in the opening months of the League 1 campaign. He agreed a permanent deal with the club in the summer, having been one of manager Steve Evans’ key targets, after a successful loan spell the previous season.

Asked if there would be interest during the current transfer window, Raynor said: “I hope not, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

“If anyone was at Plymouth on Saturday, particularly in the second half, they would be picking up the phone because he was phenomenal, a massive asset to us but the only problem was that we couldn’t get on the end of some of his fantastic crosses.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we had interest but we are certainly not inviting any.”

Graham had been missing for several weeks with a hamstring injury.

“It is great to have him back,” said Raynor. “He gave us a massive lift before the Plymouth game, the fact he was back in the group and in full training. His performance also gave everyone a lift, particularly second half.

“He is crucial for us, a creative player, his assist and goals record this season has been phenomenal, he is having a good season and so he was a massive miss. He brings a lot of positivity energy around the place and that’s what we need.”

Connor Ogilvie and Jack Tucker are usually the men in demand but homegrown youngster Tucker was dropped to the bench last weekend.

Speaking about the young defender, Raynor said: “He just needs to cut out the individual mistakes and get his concentration levels back up to speed.

“He was a young player who probably played more games last year than anybody, including himself, would have anticipated, so we have just taken him out of the firing line for a game or two. He may well be back in the firing line on Saturday.

“He had a bit of a shaky game against Northampton, by his own admission. Taking him out will do him good and calm him down and we can re-evaluate things a bit.”

Gillingham have yet to make any additions since the window opened but Coventry loan midfielder Josh Eccles has returned to his parent club. The other five loan players remain for now.

“We are still speaking to their parent clubs,” Raynor said. “We are in dialogue with all of them to see what their thoughts are moving forward. They are all anxious for them to get game time, that is why they are here, but we are mindful that we need to get points as well.

“They are here to get experience and they have done well. That dialogue will continue into the early part of next week.”

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