Max Ehmer hails the Gillingham squad after a win over Notts County leaves them level on points with Barrow at the top of League Two

Gillingham manager Mark Bonner delivered a final message to his squad before their weekend game - one captain Max Ehmer has backed up.

The Gills have been troubled by numerous injuries and unavailability since the start of the season - with seven potential starters missing at the weekend - but they’ve managed to keep picking up the wins regardless. Squad depth has been key.

A 1-0 win at Notts County was arguably their most eye-catching result so far and came after manager Bonner had reminded his players of the importance of everyone being able to contribute, saying to them: “It will take all of us” in his address at the end of their pre-match team meeting.

Bonner had already highlighted to the media the importance of substitutions this season so far and they came up trumps again at the weekend, with Oli Hawkins there in central defence heading away a couple of late desperate balls into the box from the home side, having been introduced on 89 minutes.

Ehmer said: “The boys who started the game and then the boys who went on made a massive difference.

“We always talk about it as a squad game. Hawks has come on at the end there, obviously next to me at centre half, and he's a beast. He's headed four or five away in a matter of minutes.

“Jack Nolan comes on, Jacob Wakeling. It's a real squad thing and it's important everyone's ready and whoever's got the shirt, tries and keeps the shirt but then when it's your turn to come on, you make sure you put in the performance like we did.

“That's the case for the whole season going forward.

“There's going to be rotation. Boys won't be able to play every game, so just making sure that whoever's coming in to the starting XI, make sure they put in a shift.”

Ehmer’s missed one game