There won’t be a better finisher at Gillingham, should Ipswich Town youngster Jack Marriott make a loan move to the Kent club today.

That is according to Woking manager Garry Hill who has just seen the 19-year-old depart the Kingfield Stadium following nine goals in nine games for the Skrill Premier League club.

The teenager may have hoped to be in contention for a first senior start for the Blues at home to Preston North End, in the FA Cup Third Round tomorrow, but manager Mick McCarthy thinks he will be better served building up his Football League experience gradually.

Should he sign for Gillingham by 4.45pm today, he will be in contention to make his debut in the Gills’ televised league clash at home to Wolves tonight.

“If Jack makes the move to Gillingham there won’t be a better finisher in their team,” said Hill.

“His movement in the final third and the penalty area is excellent and he gets in some very good positions.

“Wolves at home will be a big game for him but he won’t be phased by it. If he gets an opportunity he will hit the target.”

Marriott initially signed a one-month loan deal with the Cards in November and quickly became a fans’ favourite, scoring three goals in his first two games.

Experienced campaigner Hill says former Wolves manager McCarthy is pleased with the youngster’s progress.

“I think Mick is really pleased with the support we have given Jack and hopefully this can lead to other players coming to Woking, from Ipswich Town or elsewhere,” he added.

“It has been a positive outcome for ourselves, Jack, and Mick (McCarthy) and Ipswich Town and as much as we will miss him, we are proud and pleased in another way that we have played a part in his development.

“His attitude and hunger to succeed is fantastic and he has been a revelation for us.”

Meanwhile new Town signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could make his Blues debut tomorrow.

The 27-year-old joined Town six days before Christmas and has been gradually working his way back to full fitness, having been out with since April 1 with a broken leg and damaged ankle ligaments.

The Preston game was earmarked as a target for the striker who may be joined by a number of fringe players in the team to face the League One promotion hopefuls.

Paul Taylor could keep his place in attack after being handed a rare start against Charlton, while the likes of Paul Anderson, Jay Tabb, Tyrone Mings, Anthony Wordsworth and Scott Loach could also feature.

Tomorrow’s opponents are just two points off the automatic promotion places, ahead of second-placed Wolves’ game tonight and have lost just three games all season.

In the FA Cup, the two teams have met twice, with Preston winning 6-1 at Deepdale in 1954 and Town winning 3-0 at the same venue in 1980.

Meanwhile, teenage winger Jordan Graham has returned to Aston Villa after the end of his one-month loan spell with Ipswich.