Gillingham welcome Ipswich to Priestfield on Saturday days after the Suffolk side made a change of manager.

Paul Lambert was removed earlier in the week after a difference of opinion with the chairman over the “order of immediate priorities” for the team.

A day later Paul Cook was installed as the new manager, taking charge hours before their 2-1 win at Accrington on Tuesday night. Cook has previously won promotions with Wigan, Chesterfield and Portsmouth and has already said his aim is promotion with Ipswich this season.

Evans is sure Cook will take Ipswich back to the Championship but will also hope his team can make the new manager’s life tough.

He said: “My only surprise is that Paul Cook is not managing in the Championship. The job he did at Wigan was nothing short of sensational.

“When he left Wigan a few people like myself probably thought he was nailed on to be going to Bristol City, it didn’t happen, but he has gone to a giant and one thing that giant will be is in the Championship under Cooky. I never thought it would happen under where they have been in the last year or so.

"Paul Cook changes it for Ipswich Town. He will bring a real enthusiasm to a talented group of players. He knows what it takes to get a big club up.

“If you had a budget of the league table they would be in the top three and we would be in the bottom three but games are won by finding a way and scoring more goals than the opposition and that is what we did on Tuesday (against MK Dons).”

The Gills are in good form, beating MK Dons on Tuesday and taking a point away from Portsmouth last weekend.

Striker Vadaine Oliver and midfielder Kyle Dempsey will both hope to shake off knocks for Gillingham before the match.

Read more on the Gills;

Evans: 'Do they want it enough'

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