Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth praises midfielder Bradley Dack’s football brain - and has empathy over his injury battles

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has sympathy for Bradley Dack’s recent struggles with injury.

Dack scored his first goal back in a Gills shirt since 2017 to help them defeat MK Dons on Saturday.

Former QPR and Wycombe midfielder Ainsworth drew parallels between what Dack’s been through with long-term injuries and his own career.

“Bradley's an experienced player, I knew he'd be football savvy,” said Ainsworth.

“He's played at a high level and to do that, you have to know the game.

“When you say know the game, it's the little positions you take up. I've had young players in midfield saying to me, how do I know where the second ball's going to be? And you don't, you can't tell them.

“It's experience, it's playing. You see sometimes when the ball's coming up, he's giving little nudges to people just to make space for himself. And he knows his next pass.

“All these things are quality from Brad. And to see him not playing for so long because of injuries, it's frustrating. I've been there, I really have.

“I was lucky enough to play at the high level, but injuries really hurt my career when I was at the high level. So I know what he's been through. I can probably empathise a lot with Bradley.

“But when he has a moment like that, I think it's his first goal for a couple of years, he took it really well. I think I could have finished that one! Right place, right time, Brad. Well done.”

Gillingham’s winner against MK Dons was conjured up on the pitch after a lengthy discussion between Dack, Armani Little, Max Clark and Conor Masterson.

Ainsworth admitted he was actually hoping Dack would take the set-piece, rather than end up being on the end of it.

“I have to hold my hand up here. I said I wouldn't mind Bradley taking this,”