by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler says he was willing to take a punt on winger Jordan Obita after receiving a glowing recommendation.

The 18-year-old joined on Friday from Championship side Reading and came on as a first-half substitute in Gillingham’s 1-0 win at Plymouth on Saturday.

Hessenthaler was keen to add extra options to his squad and hopes the England under-19 youth international will be just what he is looking for.

Hessenthaler said: "We do need a bit of width in the team and we play narrow at times with the 4-3-3 or the diamond formation.

"I think sometimes you need that width, especially at home. When he gets the ball he can make things happen.

"I hadn’t seen him but I spoke to Nigel Gibbs, who is the assistant there and a really good friend, and I spoke to (the Reading manager) Brain McDermott. They say he is going to be a good player. You trust people you know and he is obviously doing very well. He is going to give us an extra dimension."

Obita (pictured) came through the academy ranks at Reading and made his first team debut for the Royals aged just 16. Despite an impressive pre-season he has struggled to make it into the Championship side’s first team this season.

Obita will stay with the Gills for the next month, with the current deal due to expire on Saturday, March 31, after the game against Macclesfield at Priestfield.