Gillingham manager Steve Evans has praised the players who have returned to action before they should have.

Central defender Rhys Bennett is among those players hurried back into the starting line-up during the recent injury crisis.

The Gills have had as many as 10 senior players missing for some fixtures recently and rehabilitation times have had to be reduced to help fill the teamsheet.

Bennett was back on Saturday after missing the previous five league matches and put straight back into the defence with just one training session behind him. He was needed as Max Ehmer dislocated a shoulder in the previous game at Rotherham.

“Rhys had to play, we had no other option,” said the Gills boss.

“He was really good, the better of our two centre halves, comfortably. For the player to go out there and do 90 minutes for us shows the type of player he is. He gives everything for the cause. He was brilliant but shouldn’t have played.”

David Tutonda had been missing for two months but came on at Fleetwood for the last 15 minutes as the Gills looked to change the system.

But Evans said: “He shouldn’t have been out there, he is not quite right. Ben Reeves travelled principally so we could get more treatment to him while he was with us and we put him on the bench. We thought at one stage about introducing him but it just wasn’t his type of game.”

Reeves has seen little action this season but any senior players is a welcome addition for Evans.

The Gills boss did also reserve some praise for youngster Harvey Lintott, who for the second game running made a positive impact.

“They have a really good player on that left side, but the best player on that side of the pitch was Harvey Lintott,” said Evans, who has been playing his young players regularly in recent games.

There are still some big players missing for Gillingham but Evans is getting more back by the week.

The manager said: “It has been the longest season ever for me.

“I always said when we get a full strength or near full strength then we can compete with anyone.”