Loan Extension for Ashley Maynard-Brewer

Gillingham have agreed to keep Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer on loan for an additional week. The 23-year-old, who joined the club on loan from Southampton, was on the bench for last weekend’s match against Walsall and will be in goal again for Saturday’s fixture at Fleetwood.

Concerns Over Ollie Wright’s Fitness

The decision comes as manager Gareth Ainsworth remains wary of the fitness of his first-choice keeper, Ollie Wright. The 23-year-old loanee missed the entire pre-season and has yet to make a first-team appearance. Ainsworth has had to rely on emergency loan signings for the club’s first two league games.

Ainsworth said: “Ollie’s on the grass. He’s almost there. When Ollie Wright comes back in the team, we cannot have him breaking down again. That’s something that I cannot have.”

The Armani Little Incident

The caution was prompted by a recent injury scare involving backup keeper Armani Little. Little, who had played 45 minutes in pre-season and was a surprise starter against Walsall, suffered a tweak in a previous injury after only half an hour of action. Ainsworth described the incident as “very disappointing” and “frustrating.”

He added: “Armani was very disappointed on Saturday because he came in and he felt really good, he felt super, and then he had a little tweak on the injury that we’ve had. I don’t want that.”

Aims to Prevent Re-injuries

Ainsworth stressed the importance of ensuring players are fully fit before returning to action. “We have to make sure that these players, when they come back, are super fit and ready for the game and the demands of the game,” he said. “We want to limit the injuries.”

He praised Sheffield Wednesday for the loan arrangement, noting that Maynard-Brewer had “made some cracking saves” and that the club’s performance was not compromised.

Upcoming Matches

With Maynard-Brewer’s loan extended, Gillingham will face Fleetwood on Saturday. Wright’s return remains uncertain, but Ainsworth’s priority is to avoid any recurrence of injuries that could jeopardise the club’s season.

The club’s medical staff will continue to monitor Wright’s progress, while the coaching team prepares for the next league match, hoping to secure a clean sheet behind a fully fit goalkeeper.