A first goal in professional football was the perfect way to start the birthday celebrations for Jack Tucker.

The young defender was presented with a gift by Mark Marshall, swinging a cross into the far post where birthday boy Tucker was there to head home.

Tucker turned 20 on Wednesday, a day after Gillingham’s 2-0 win over Tottenham’s under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

He said: “It was nice to get the goal, the result was a good one and we kept a clean sheet as well, which is the most important thing as a defender.”

Boss Steve Evans has been impressed with Tucker since first taking over as manager and the youngster made six consecutive starts before being left out of the side last weekend, in the FA Cup game at Sunderland.

Any disappointment at being dropped was soon forgotten about as Tucker helped the Gills to a clean sheet and headed home their second goal on 79 minutes, to seal the win.

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His parents had missed his first league start, which came in the home game against Ipswich Town. They were there to see his first senior goal, though.

“They would have been gutted with themselves to have missed it,” he said. “That was a little birthday treat.”

With the Gills players off on Wednesday, Tucker was able to enjoy his birthday and take it easy before returning today for training.

Speaking about that goal, assistant boss Paul Raynor said: “We were delighted he got a goal. He nearly got one in the first half and he had one cleared off the line.

“He is a powerful boy, he is strong in the air and if he attacks the ball with that aggression he will score more goals.”