Weekend winner can be catalyst for Gillingham midfielder Josh Rees, says manager Steve Lovell

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 07:27, 14 January 2019

Updated: 07:30, 14 January 2019

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell knew the time would come for midfield man Josh Rees.

His strike saw Gills claim a last-gasp 3-2 win at Burton in League 1 on Saturday and Lovell is confident Rees will continue to shine.

“He is a true pro and he has waited for his opportunity,” said Lovell. “He has worked hard, he gives everything and I have been waiting for this moment because Josh is an excellent player.

Josh Rees enjoys the moment after his last-gasp winner Picture: Ady Kerry

“He is a goalscorer and his time has been limited because of the way the other players have played in midfield, but that will do him no end of good and he will only push on from that. He will thrive off that.”

Lovell signed Rees in the summer from National League side Bromley.

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The 25-year-old began his career at Arsenal and made one substitute appearance for Nottingham Forest but it was his goalscoring form at Bromley last season that led to him working his way back into the Football League.

Lovell said: “It is a big leap coming from Conference football to League 1 and I know what he can do, which is why I brought him to the club.

“He has been patient and I talk to him every day. I tell him he is getting better, he knows he is.

“That will do him the power of good. He has had chances where he hasn’t taken them, at Southend he had a good shot that was saved that could have gone in. But that was an excellent finish, side-footing it in. He picked his spot and it was a brilliant finish.”

Rees nicked the ball off last weekend’s man-of-the-moment Elliott List to fire home the winner. But it was another good day for List, scoring the opener and constantly threatening in a game of few chances for the Gills.

Lovell was delighted to see List net his seventh of the season.

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“We said when Elliott scored his first goal at Bristol Rovers (last season), that he would go on from it,” said Lovell. “It was a bit of a joke in the dressing room that he hadn’t scored before that but (now) he hasn’t stopped.

“He could have scored more and he could have had a couple more on Saturday in a game where we didn’t have many opportunities.”