Gareth Ainsworth knows that Barnet will be dangerous opponents ahead of Saturday's fixture at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Barnet travel to ME7 off the back of two impressive draws, and Ainsworth will make sure that his side are on their game for the early kick-off.
The Gills boss provided injury updates on Armani Little and Seb Palmer-Houlden, and spoke about Conor Masterson and Euan Williams’ recovery.
On Barnet...
A really good challenge. I don't want to be repeating myself, but anyone is a good side in this league. They are professional players. Dean [Brennan] has got a style of football that he wants to stick to and play, and they have had a few good results. We watched a couple of their games lately, and they had a great draw against MK Dons, and to take points off them is a decent result. They went to Cambridge last week and were unlucky.
We have got to respect them and make sure that we are on our game, because they have got some dangerous players. [Callum] Stead is a good player there, and they have a couple of exciting wingers. We have got to make sure that we are on our best game, because I want to keep backing up this run that we have started. We had a tough October, but the past couple of games, I think we have done well.
Team news...
Armani [Little] is definitely fit to play now, which is great. We have got Seb [Palmer-Houlden] back, which is brilliant as well, and one or two others are very close. We had a decent squad last week, and I am really pleased with where we are. There are one or two knocks, but there is nothing serious.
On Conor Masterson and Euan Williams...
You are probably looking into December for both of those two now. They are big players, but it will be like having new signings a month early. I am really looking forward to those two getting back. Conor is a real leader at the back and a real warrior of a centre-half.
Euan is sort of being mentored by Bradley Dack a little bit. We see Euan in a very similar role to that attacking midfield role. He is full of energy. I know that the bit is between his teeth. He has had one or two minor setbacks after his shoulder injury, and it has been a tough season for Euan. On the first day of pre-season, he had a fall on his shoulder and popped it out, needing surgery. It has been a really tough year for him so far, but they will be like new signings, those two in December. Apart from those two, everyone else seems in pretty good shape.
Being adaptable as a manager...
My tactics change weekly to win games. I have always said that when people say, 'What style or formation do you use?' I always answer that with the one that wins. That is what I will always answer that with. I will always change to the style that I think will win the game. That's me as a manager, and that's how I want to be as a football manager. I think that if you pigeonhole yourself into one style or one formation, then you have to be good at it. Sometimes, the greatest strength as a manager is being adaptable and changing to get a result.
We did it earlier in the season, when we changed our tactics against Walsall and took Joe Gbode off at half-time and brought on Josh Andrews just to win the game. That is something that I am pleased to see.
Timeline on returning to the dugout…
Not far at all. I think that within a week or two, I will be back in that dugout. It has been hell trying to watch from the stand, and it was even worse from home. That was really tough. Now I’m a step closer. It was brilliant to be able to go up to the Rainham End just before the game on Saturday. I was worried about how quickly I would get up to my seat, and luckily, I didn’t miss anything.
It was brilliant to have that reception and just to share that moment with them. They are a great bunch of fans.
