Gillingham boss Steve Evans is expecting a tougher test against Burton Albion now that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is back in charge of the basement side.

In his previous stint with Burton, the former Leeds and Chelsea player led the Brewers to the League 2 title and the summit of League 1 before leaving for QPR in December 2015.

His appointment was announced on Friday night and he watched on the following day as his new side were thumped 5-1 by Oxford United, their fifth successive league defeat. Dutchman Hasselbaink took charge of training for the first time on Monday and Evans is expecting the visitors to respond.

Evans said: “He is a man I know, a good experienced manager and was brilliant at Burton last time. It will be a tough test for us.

“He will have had a week to work with them and if we play like we did in the second half on Saturday (when the Gills dominated against Plymouth without reward) then we’ll take what comes.

“It makes it a lot harder, they were in disarray weren't they? Oxford have gone there and won very easily but Oxford are a good team. They got boshed at Plymouth last Tuesday and it’s a funny league. Ryan [Lowe, the Plymouth manager) said they tore Oxford apart for long spells, I think we did that to them, it is a funny old league.”

The Gills were beaten last time out, losing 1-0 to Plymouth, despite that dominance in the second half. They have now lost four of their last five in the league but remain six points off the play-off places.

Evans said: “We deserved to win the game, not even get a point, but we will get on with it.

“We were pleased with the performance but gutted about the result.”

Gillingham were looking to add a couple more players to their squad ahead of the weekend, with the January transfer window now open. Evans has said he’s looking at all areas.

Back-up goalkeeper Joe Walsh is expected to return to training on Friday after a period of self-isolation having come into contact with someone who tested positive.

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