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Defender Max Ehmer is confident Gillingham's young players can deliver if needed at Sheffield Wednesday - just like he did many years ago.
An injury crisis at the Gills means some of the teenagers on the fringes of the first team this season might need to start at Hillsborough this weekend.
Bailey Akehurst, Gerald Sithole and Harvey Lintott all came off the bench against Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup, a match that saw three Gillingham players limp off injured. Ehmer himself got a whack that left him nursing a sore foot.
Ehmer recalled playing at Hillsborough himself early on in his career in January 2011, days before his 20th birthday. It was only his sixth game as a professional footballer when he helped loan side Yeovil Town to a 2-2 draw in a match which saw his team finish with just nine men.
He said: “As a kid, playing against top teams is what you want to do. I remember being their age when Sheffield Wednesday were last in League 1 and it’s an unbelievable place to play and a great side to play against.
“We will have to wait on the injuries and the gaffer’s selection and whatever and if they are selected I am sure they will be nervous but you are going to have to play some day if you are going to be a professional footballer.
“You don’t wish injury upon anyone but at one stage your chance is going to come, you have to make sure you take it and you strive on from there.
“They did really well when they came on (against Cheltenham). Gerald is a threat in behind, Harvey and Bailey did really well when they came on, both playing full-back and it is a positive, you want to see the young boys do well and they got their chance.
“You never know, with the injuries we have they might be starting so it is crucial for them that they knuckle down and work hard.”
Sithole took his chance when it came, scoring the equalising goal in the FA Cup first round match.
Ehmer said: “Gerald is full of energy, he has got pace, he is a good finisher, like we saw, he is another who has been knocking on the door and he took his chance. I am really pleased for him.”
Speaking after the weekend game, Ehmer was confident his own knock won’t keep him out. Rhys Bennett, Robbie McKenzie and Ryan Jackson all picked up injuries in a physical battle at Priestfield.
The German-born defender wasn’t impressed with the challenge that left him in pain.
“He caught me on his follow through,” said the 29-year-old.
“There were a couple of naughty challenges to be honest. On another day that challenge on Robbie McKenzie could have been a red card and my one was a bit naughty, where he cleaned me out, but the ref made his decision and you have to get on with it.”
Gillingham drew the match 1-1 after recovering from a goal down thanks to Sithole’s strike.
Ehmer said: “Our performance in the second half warranted a win, we just didn’t take our chances but the positives are we are still in the hat and we go back to work and concentrate on the league and then the replay.
“We have got a massive game coming up at Sheffield Wednesday, we need to knuckle down, get our heads down and get on the training pitch and work out a way to win that game and see who we have available.”
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