Gareth Ainsworth believes he got what he wanted out of Gillingham's final pre-season fixture on Friday night, as his team beat Ebbsfleet United 2-1.
The Gills played two games on the day, with several first-team players playing in a behind closed doors fixture earlier on Friday, with the Gills boss looking to get 90 minutes into the legs of the majority of the squad. Ainsworth felt that everything went as planned, and discussed the potential for incoming players ahead of the new campaign.
There was one departure confirmed on Friday night, as academy graduate Sam Gale signed for League One Barnsley. Ainsworth heaped praise on the young defender, who was ever-reliable, but knows that now is the time for other members of the academy cohort to try and make the same step that Gale made over the last 18 months.
Sam Tabares was forced to come off during the first-half, and will be assessed ahead of the opening weekend. The 53-year-old also provided updates on Garath McCleary, Ollie Wright, Armani Little, Bradley Dack and Cameron Antwi.
Gillingham's season opens with the Carabao Cup next Saturday, as they host Luton Town. Ainsworth is looking forward to a difficult test, but is glad that the League Cup fixture is taking centre stage.
On the final day of pre-season…
It’s just unfortunate that Sam Tabares had to go off in that first-half. We will check him out and see how he is, but everyone else got the minutes as planned. I mixed the squads around today, so I am not giving anything away.
There was a team against Ipswich at home this morning—a mixture of some youngsters and some older ones, and then this one as well. We finished the game with about four or five of our academy graduates on the pitch, which is fantastic for the club.
I got exactly what I wanted out of the game. They saw the game out at the end, the press that we put on, and the chances that we created. I am really pleased. I have said that I am excited for the season.
I think that there are going to be two or three more additions, but this is the team that I wanted. This is what I wanted to put together, and I am really pleased that I have been able to do it.
Sam Gale’s departure to Barnsley…
We wish Galey all the best. He has been a phenomenal servant for me. I think that I have played him in nearly every game that he has been fit for me, so that tells you what I think of Sam Gale.
He is moving on to pastures new and bettering himself for his career, which you cannot blame him for. It’s up to me now to go, right, let’s get the next Sam Gale through here.
Galey has been amazing, and I know that fans will be heartbroken to see him go, because he is one of our own, but there are a few one of our owns coming through as well, so I am looking forward to them.
Injury updates…
We had a couple of knocks early on in the first few weeks. They are going to almost be back for this first or second game. They are going to be right there. Your [Garath] McCleary’s, your [Ollie] Wright’s, your [Armani] Little’s. They are going to be right there. Bradley [Dack] is going to be a tiny bit behind them, and Sam Tabares walked off saying, ‘I don’t feel comfy,’ so we will have a look at that.
Cameron Antwi, I think, is very close. He had a couple of surgeries, so we have got bodies coming back.
Opening the season with the Carabao Cup…
This is the League Cup. This is a cup competition that we should be proud of. Our pyramid is fantastic. When you talk about other countries and when the World Cup has come about, we have got a fantastic football pyramid here. The FA Cup and the League Cup, these are competitions to really hold and take seriously.
I think that it’s a great idea that they have brought it forward because everyone did want to change their team on that Tuesday. You have just got everyone fit, you have played a game and then the League Cup on Tuesday and then Saturday again in the league. I think that it’s a great idea from the FA or the EFL.
It’s great for us to have this. It’s not our last pre-season game; it’s our first cup game, but I am looking forward to our first league game as well.
