GILLINGHAM manager Steve Evans was full of praise for on-loan Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson in the aftermath of his side's 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers on Wednesday night, insisting that the youngster will be ready to break into the starting XI when he returns to Parkhead at the end of the season.

The 19-year-old defensive midfielder agreed a loan move to England's League One during the summer and has started 11 games in all competitions, setting up one goal for his side.

Robertson was handed his senior debut by Neil Lennon last December in Celtic's 2-0 defeat to Cluj in the Europa League but has yet to make his first league appearance for the champions.

However, Evans was adamant that Robertson will be ready to enter the first-team fold upon his return to Glasgow - insisting that there is no higher compliment he could pay the talented youngster.

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Evans told Kent Online: "I cannot give any bigger testament to a 19-year-old kid in Scott Robertson than to say he will play in the Celtic first team next season.

“He might not play every week but he will play for them.

“I know he is very highly thought of by all the coaching staff there. They had a representative at the game and he would have gone away thinking, ‘we have a good player there’, but they know it anyway.

“I thought he played with composure at times, with grit and determination, which is perhaps why they sent him here when three points matter, rather than playing academy games.

“I don’t think there was one payer who went back on the coach for us that had been on the pitch that hadn’t given everything for the cause.”