Will Goodwin: Have Gillingham just signed their new attacking focal point?

Gareth Ainsworth has traditionally liked to play with a big, strong target man as the focal point of his forward line, and in Goodwin he’s signed exactly that. The six-foot-one front man has grown into his frame since his early days as a pro and now looks like a strong, physical presence.

On first glance, Goodwin’s goal record doesn’t look prolific – he managed four goals in 28 league appearances last season while on loan at League Two Colchester United. But on closer inspection, there’s more optimism to be gleaned.

Goodwin started just 12 of those games, coming off the bench for the remaining 16. Overall, his playing minutes totalled 1,198 which, when you factor in his four goals, equates to a scoring rate of one goal every three and a bit games. Over the course of his entire senior career, that scoring rate sits at the equivalent of one goal every four games.

But perhaps more important than his own ability in front of goal is what he’ll bring to the team as a whole. Gillingham have been crying out for an effective target man ever since the days of Tom Eaves and Vadaine Oliver. Gillingham’s signing of Ronan Hale last year brought a livewire finisher to the club, but without an effective, consistent strike partner, his impact was severely restricted.

Goodwin’s signing offers the potential of a legitimate strike pairing up front, with a big man, little man partnership between Goodwin and Hale. The former’s arrival will almost certainly have been designed to help bring the very best out of Hale, and it will be fascinating to see what sort of partnership the pair can strike up in the early games of the new campaign.

Goodwin also offers defensive options, too. His aerial ability means he can be an asset in both boxes, while his ability to hold the ball up will help ease the pressure on our midfield and, in turn, our defence.

On paper, it looks like exactly the sort of signing the club needed, and hopes will be high that Goodwin can settle in and become an integral part of our attacking arsenal for next season and beyond.

Age: 24

Position: Centre forward

Former clubs: Colchester United (loan), Wigan Athletic (loan), Oxford United, Cheltenham Town, Torquay United (loan), Hartlepool United (loan), Stoke City, Stalybridge Celtic (loan), Chester

Career appearances: 147

Career minutes: 8,481

Goals: 23

Assists: 7

Yellow cards: 18

Red cards: 0

Stats from Transfermarkt