New arrival is biggest positive from Gillingham’s pre-season: View | OneFootball

New Gillingham signing Jack Nolan could be a huge player for the Kent club this season, and he’s looked good so far in pre-season.

Highlights

There’s an air of positivity around Gillingham Football Club at the moment, with the summer changes made at the club bringing with them optimism and anticipation for the season ahead.

New manager Mark Bonner’s engaging personality seems to be rubbing off on the fanbase, who have taken to his open, honest interviews and positive approach seemingly putting the club, and its fans, on the front foot ahead of the coming campaign.

And some of his new signings have also provided added impetus, with some really positive signs on display already during the club’s pre-season games.

Jack Nolan has hit the ground running at Gillingham

One man who has been particularly impressive so far has been summer signing Jack Nolan.

The former Accrington Stanley winger has brought some much-needed quality to Gillingham’s attack from wide areas, and he’s already shown in his appearances so far that he’s going to be a real threat for the Gills this season.

Nolan hit 17 goals for Stanley last season to be one of the top-scoring non-strikers in League Two in 2023/24, and his quality in the final third has already been on display in Gillingham’s pre-season games.

Nolan has already scored twice in a Gills shirt, with goals against Watford and Southend, and his quality from dead-ball situations has also been on display as he has stood out as arguably the most impressive performer in pre-season so far.

The highlight of Nolan’s pre-season so far is undoubtedly his breakaway goal against Watford at Priestfield, which showed a glimpse of the sort of player the club has signed.

Nolan latched on to a Timothee Dieng through-ball and raced half the length of the pitch before cutting inside and finishing well from the edge of the box as he notched his first goal in front of the Rainham End.

It was the finish of a quality player, and after the match Nolan hinted that there’s more of the same to come at Gillingham.

“That is me, to a tee,” he said of his goal. “That’s what I like to do.”

Fellow wide man Jayden Clark has also impressed

Nolan hasn’t been alone in turning in eye-catching performances, however.

Another man who has had a big pre-season is Jayden Clark, who has returned to action from the summer break looking fresh, fit and ready to challenge for a regular spot in the side.

The wide man has pace and trickery, and he’s shown both in his appearances in pre-season so far. But, with the likes of Nolan and another of the new summer signings, Aaron Rowe, also vying for starting spots in Bonner’s team, it remains to be seen who will earn the shirts to walk out onto the Priestfield turf for the first game of the season.

Clark made 32 league appearances for Gillingham last year, mostly from the bench, and averaged around half an hour per game. He’ll be pushing for more game time under Bonner this season. But, if he continues his good form, the 23-year-old will offer another creative option for Bonner, either from the start or from the bench in what’s starting to look like a strong attacking roster for the Gills this season.

Wide threat could be crucial to Gills’ hopes in 2024/25

What does seem clear is that Gillingham will offer far more of a threat from wide areas in the coming campaign.

With Nolan offering goals, assists and quality from set-pieces, Rowe and Clark bringing pace and direct running, and backed up by quality delivery from Remeao Hutton from right back, the Gills look blessed with a variety of weapons to create chances from wide areas in 2024/25. And with two big, bustling front men to choose from up front in Elliott Nevitt and Josh Andrews, Bonner has the sort of grunt and physicality in the final third to take advantage of good service from out wide.

We won’t know his starting XI until around 2pm on August 10, but whoever he goes with, it seems clear that the team Bonner puts onto the field on opening day will carry significantly more of an attacking threat than the side that finished last season.