Conor Masterson has joined Gillingham on loan from Queens Park Rangers for the rest of the season, as confirmed on the Gills' official website.

The young centre back spent the first half of the season with Cambridge United as the U's built a platform to maintain their third tier status for another season.

Masterson also spent the second half of last term at Swindon Town and his deal in West London expires in the summer of 2023.

The 23-year-old's experience with the Robins should directly correlate to the battle at hand with Gillingham.

The Gills look destined to fall to rock bottom in League One very soon having only registered one win in their last 21 games in all competitions.

Masterson may find it difficult to put himself in front of Max Ehmer and Jack Tucker at the heart of defence although he would give Steve Lovell more tactical flexibility.

Gills are currently nine points from safety in League One, preparing to take on promotion chasing Oxford United this weekend, if they were able to pull themselves out of the mire or at least compete against relegation by tightening up on the back, it would reflect very well on the Rangers man coming in at this stage.

The Verdict

 

 

Masterson has managed 13 starts in the Championship for QPR over the last few years, and entering the final year of his contract next season it is important that he shows his worth to Mark Warburton and the club.

Rangers are not spoilt for choice at the back but are willing to loan Masterson out, which shows that he is not quite up to the standard to be involved in the first team picture yet.

Centre backs tend to mature and peak a little later than players in other positions and therefore there is still room for development with Masterson, and playing in a side who are on the back foot for extended periods of games should be a positive experience for the 23-year-old.