‘This one’s for you’ – Gillingham boss sends message to injured Harris

Manager Gareth Ainsworth dedicated Gillingham’s hard-earned point at Fleetwood to injured wing-back Kadeem Harris.

The Gills have been hit with injuries since the start of pre-season - and they hampered the team’s efforts in the last campaign. There’s been no let-up for Ainsworth so far this term.

Kadeem Harris went down in the second half with a knee injury that looked bad. He was stretchered off.

Ainsworth felt for the player - the latest senior pro to pick up an injury.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Gills boss said: “The overriding emotion is concern over Kadeem Harris and his injury because that was a tough one to see, especially after Liam Gordon and Armani Little last week and the ones we picked up in pre-season.

“The injury list is growing and that's not nice. It's got to be something that we address and it can't just be signing more players because that causes more problems.

“We've got to look within and we've got players like Sully Booth and Harry Webster, who didn't get on [at Fleetwood]. They're both competent and I think we've got good depth but I don't want to rely on the kids too much. You sort of ease them in and bed them in.

“It can be done with youngsters but you've got to get lucky.”

Captain Liam Gordon was watching from the bench with a leg brace on after his own knee injury the week before.

Armani Little, Bradley Dack, Garath McCleary and Ethan Coleman, along with goalkeeper Ollie Wright, are all missing.

Following the latest injury, Ainsworth said: “I absolutely love that boy [Kadeem]. He's one of the few that played with me.

“We played together back about 20 years ago. He's devastated.

“His foot sticks in the grass and then I think the Fleetwood player has come in, accidentally, but he's sort of twisted [his knee] it at the same time.

“They're always nasty and you always fear the worst with them. Kadeem just wanted to come here and play and show everyone what he can do.

“He's better than this level and we will be better than this level with him in the team. Hopefully we'll get him back soon. That one's for him.”