Oli Hawkins scores his first goal for Gillingham with winner against Grimsby Town at Priestfield

Oli Hawkins’ first goal for Gillingham pleased the manager but Neil Harris doesn’t judge his big striker on how many he nets.

Hawkins scored an 87th minute winner against Grimsby Town on Tuesday night to lift the Gills clear of the League 2 relegation zone.

Prior to Hawkins’ goal it had been strike-partner Tom Nichols taking the headlines, with three scored in his first three games. For Harris, he sees his big man as more than just a goalscorer.

“Oli knows why he is here and what I want from him,” said the manager. “Oli is a centre-forward by trade and has become a very good centre-half as well over the last few years (at former club Mansfield) but I want him to play upfront, unless needs must.

“He knows he will score goals in my team because my big men Steve Morison (at Millwall) and Kieffer Moore (at Cardiff) in particular, scored goals in teams I’ve managed over a period of time.

“He will score goals because he will get opportunities with the way we play, but his job is to be that focal point, to play up to, to link up play, to win his headers and to defend his own box from set-plays. Just before he scored he headed one from just underneath our bar.

“It is nice for his confidence and nice for the fans to see him score and get off the mark and Oli is so important to us.”

Gillingham have had some big players playing that role in recent years, including Tom Eaves and Vadaine Oliver. There have been many more before that.

Harris said: “This club loves a big man upfront don’t they? I know that, I have played against them at Gillingham and I have done after dinner speaking with Bob Taylor and they loved him.

“The fans will be delighted for Hawks to get off the mark. We want him to score goals but that is not his focal point