Ike Orji made his Football League debut off the bench on Saturday for Gillingham and came close to making his first start.

The appearance of the former Chatham Town right-back was a positive from a frustrating home defeat for the Gills against Notts County.

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Orji, 19, recently made his first Gills senior appearance for the club in the EFL Trophy at Portsmouth and went one better with a first showing in the league and he didn’t disappoint.

Interim boss Keith Millen hasn’t been afraid to utilise the young Gillingham professionals since taking charge and Orji has benefited from that faith.

It was between Max Clark an Orji to start at right-back and the senior man got the nod. Teenager Orji came on for Scott Malone on 79 minutes.

Millen said: “It was a difficult decision whether to go with Ike from the start and I think if it hadn’t been for such a big occasion against a really good side then maybe Ike might have started.

“He went on and put some great crosses in, he looked like he could handle it, that is definitely a plus going forward.”

Orji signed for the Gills in February, with a view that he could be one for the future. He was immediately loaned back to Chatham to continue playing there as the club won the Isthmian South East title.

This season, with the implementation of the B Team at Gillingham, Orji has had regular games under the watchful eye of Millen, who was heavily involved in the team before stepping up to take on the first-team.

Millen has also involved Matty Macarthur, handing him a first senior start at Portsmouth. Sam Gale was another young pro involved at the weekend, as an unused substitute.

The interim manager said: “I have worked with the B Team lads for a long time and so I know what they can do, I knew what he (Ike) would add. You could see that when he came on.

“It was just the case of knowing what Notts County would do, as in their clever movement, I just felt that experience probably swung (a starting role) in favour of Max starting.

“Max did really well as a left-footer (at right-back) and then Ike came on for Scott which was great for him.

“Sometimes as a coach and manager you have to pick and choose the right moment. I had a good chat with Ike and he understood my thought process, even he said ‘I can understand’. It was a big game, he will be okay and better for his debut.”