Joe Gbode’s chance with the Gillingham first team on Tuesday was fully deserved said boss Neil Harris.

The 17-year-old second year scholar was brought back from his loan at Isthmian League side Hastings United to make his first senior start for Gillingham in their League 2 game at Crawley Town.

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Gbode got stuck in, up against Harris’ former team-mate and captain at Millwall, Tony Craig. The 37-year-old made life tough for Gbode, goading the young striker into an early booking for retaliating to a heavy challenge.

A promising performance was only let down by missing a great first half chance after Shaun Williams had nodded Cheye Alexander’s cross on a plate, only for the usually reliable young striker to shoot wide.

Harris said the teenager was disappointed not to score, but said: “His all round performance was excellent, I saw glimpses of what is to come form him in the future, he is a real bright spark in our academy at the moment.

“He had a really good loan move to Hastings and I have been really pleased with him.

“I thought he was good (on Tuesday), I thought the team was good, I thought the subs made an impact when they came on, maybe with the team at the moment I need to make three or four subs around the 45-60 minute mark just to keep the energy up.

“I went with Joe (to start) because it is fair to say that the centre-forwards haven’t quite been at the level I hoped for a period, I just thought Joe deserved an opportunity. He has had opportunities off the bench, he did well pre-season and what he does regularly is score goals, in the academy and on loan, so we thought, let’s bring him back and give him a chance. He did very well.”

The teenage striker had been on loan at Isthmian League side Hastings United, recently joining for a second spell and scoring twice on his return to the club. He has five goals in six appearances for the non-league side.