New Gills signing Josh Pritchard has yet to play in the Football League but boss Peter Taylor believes he’s ready to go.

The 21-year-old midfielder was released by Fulham in the summer without playing a senior game. He was previously on the books of Manchester United as a youngster.

Pritchard has played senior football in Norway and Finland but never in England. Despite his lack of experience in the English game, Taylor is confident the Mancunian will be able to handle life in League 1.

He said: “Josh needs to start playing league football in England and that’s one of the reasons he has taken advantage of coming here.

“He wants to play football, that is a cert and wants to play first team football.

“He had chances to go and play first team football abroad but he wants to get in the first team in England. He wants to get on the ladder and knows he has a chance.

“I know a lot of people from Fulham and loads of people who speak highly of him. They say to me that I will only have to say things to him once and he totally understands it, which is good.

“He is a good age and the only thing he is lacking is that he hasn’t got the experience of playing league football in this country."