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Gillingham boss Steve Evans admitted even his own backroom team were surprised when he told them Daniel Phillips would play against Sheffield Wednesday.
Phillips has been out for over two months with an ankle injury but the Watford loan midfielder was a surprise inclusion in the Gills team at Hillsborough on Saturday. He turned in a whole-hearted performance to signal his return.
Evans said: “I think the staff were gobsmacked when I said I was going to put Phillips in the 18, if we had 18.
“I looked at the numbers and we were looking at four subs so we decided to get him involved and he was really impressive in training on Thursday.
“I looked how Wednesday play and set up and I think he controlled the game for long spells. That last 20 the kid had no fuel left whatsoever but we couldn't change it [Gillingham had already made three subs, with two injuries].
“If we had a full squad it would probably be two weeks down the line before we saw him off the bench but needs needed to be addressed.
“It is great (to have him back) and young Phillips has the heart the size of Big Ben. He gives you everything.”
Phillips only had two training sessions before agreeing to return to action but he wasn’t expecting to last the 90 minutes.
“He said he was good for 20 minutes off the bench,” admitted the Gills boss.
“When we arrived at Hillsborough I told him he would be starting. We were going to play him for 45 minutes and that became an hour and because of the situation with Kyle (Dempsey) and Vadaine (Oliver, who got injured) I had a word and he wanted to stay on. That is fantastic testament to his fitness levels.”
His weekend efforts mean he may now sit out Gillingham’s midweek trip to Cheltenham Town for their FA Cup first round replay tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
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