Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is hoping new signing Andy Barcham will be the answer to his prayers.

Stimson has been on the hunt for an extra striker for most of the summer and he handed the young Tottenham loanee his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Port Vale.

Barcham picked up the sponsor’s player of the match award and earned glowing reviews from Stimson who likened him to one of his former Grays favourites, Aaron McLean.

Stimson said: “Once he (Barcham) became available in the week I asked the chairman if we could have him, and he pulled out all the stops to let me go and do that. Obviously I thank him for that.

“He’s not the biggest but he competes in the air. I had a player with me in my non-league days called Aaron McLean. He’s at Peterborough now and last year he ripped this division to pieces.

“He is only five foot nothing but he was my best header of the ball and Andy Barcham is not far off that. He’s willing to compete and not frightened of getting whacked by a six-foot centre-half. If you have that mentality, you are going to get stuck in and get your rewards.

“He’s a crowd favourite because of his energy. I said to him before the game that wherever you play in this country, whether it’s Gillingham or Manchester United, if you are willing to run and chase defenders down you will get a clap. The biggest cheer he got was when he came off and that’s why I did it, because he deserved a standing ovation.

“He’ll give 150 per cent and has set a standard now and hopefully he can maintain that.”

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