Former Northampton Town striker Tom Eaves has emerged as a possible option for Gillingham after he was seen alongside head of recruitment Andy Hessenthaler at Priestfield.
According to KentOnline, the 34-year-old attended the Gills’ 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers, prompting speculation about a second spell with the club. Eaves is available after leaving Northampton Town at the end of last season, although there has been no confirmation of an agreement or formal talks.
His availability comes at a time when Gareth Ainsworth’s attacking resources have been tested by fitness concerns. Will Goodwin and Ronan Hale have both had injury issues, while fellow senior forward Lamin Sillah is still building experience during his loan spell.
Eaves would bring a different level of experience to that group, having played extensively in both the Championship and League One. He has been keeping himself ready for another opportunity through the PFA’s pre-season programme, with KentOnline reporting that he remains open to offers.
A return would reunite Gillingham with a forward whose first spell proved considerably more productive than his record before arriving might have suggested. Released by Yeovil Town in 2017 after scoring four league goals that season, Eaves joined the Gills on a two-year deal and went on to score 40 times in 97 appearances across all competitions.
He finished as the club’s leading scorer in both campaigns, with 18 goals in his first season followed by 22 in his second. Of those 40 goals, 38 came in League One, making his time at Priestfield the strongest sustained scoring spell of his career.
That form earned him a move to Hull City in the summer of 2019, when he turned down a new Gillingham contract and left on a free transfer. Three seasons with the Tigers brought a League One title and two campaigns in the Championship, before he joined Rotherham United in 2022.
After another two years in the second tier, Eaves moved to Northampton in July 2024. He finished his second season as the Cobblers’ top scorer with 10 goals in all competitions, but departed when his contract expired following their relegation to League Two.
For Gillingham, the appeal would extend beyond memories of his previous spell. At 6ft 3in, Eaves could offer an experienced focal point and another option when injuries limit Ainsworth’s choices, although any assessment would need to centre on what he can contribute now, seven years after leaving.
His presence alongside Hessenthaler has given supporters a reason to discuss a reunion, but a visit to Priestfield does not establish that a transfer is imminent. For now, an available striker with a strong connection to the club and a squad short of attacking cover make it a possibility worth watching.
