Former Gillingham player Alex MacDonald links up with his old Priestfield boss Steve Evans at League 1 Rotherham United

Manager Steve Evans has turned to a familiar face as part of his summer recruitment drive at League 1 Rotherham United.

Former Gills boss Evans returned to his old club Rotherham at the back end of last season, with relegation from the Championship already assured. He’s now putting together a team to get out of League 1 at the first attempt.

Part of his playing team will be Alex MacDonald, linking up with Evans for a fourth time.

Experienced midfielder MacDonald was Evans’ ninth signing of the summer at Rotherham but he added a 10th later the same day.

Evans has still got a few more signings to make if he wants to beat the total of 15 he made during the summer transfer window at Gillingham ahead of the 2020/21 season.

MacDonald was one of those arrivals at ME7 in the summer of 2020, joining the Gills from Mansfield Town, where he’d previously played under Evans.

The 34-year-old midfielder, speaking of his latest move, said: “Despite interest and offers elsewhere as soon as I spoke to Steve he didn’t need to convince me too much.

“Over the last couple of years in my career, I have been starved of success and I am hungry for it. I am desperate to be part of something successful.

“We have a great working relationship, not just him, Rayns (assistant Paul Raynor) as well. They know what they will get from me, I know what I am going to get from them and the style of play and how to play in a Steve Evans side.

“Hopefully we can have some success. I feel I still have a lot to give. It’s a fourth time signing for him, I am as delighted as the first time.”

Over three seasons at Gillingham, MacDonald made 87 league appearances but missed most of the 2021/22 campaign with a serious knee injury.

There were fears that his career could