Max Ehmer assured Steve Lovell he was happy to play at Fleetwood – even though it meant missing the birth of his daughter.

Gills boss Lovell told Ehmer he could go home when the defender mentioned his wife was due as they boarded the train on Friday.

Ehmer decided to stay with the squad and news of baby Thea’s arrival came through on the journey.

Lovell said: “He said to me, just as we were getting on the train going up, he said she’s nearly due and I said, ‘well, Max, do you want to go home? and he said, ‘No, I’m all right, she’ll be all right, she’s done it before, she’s had one, she’ll be all right with this one!’.

It was fine and we found out on the train I think it was that she’d given birth.

“He was chuffed to bits but he wanted to play the game. That’s down to him. I’m not getting involved. Whatever happens in his family is nothing to do with me.

“He played his normal game, as he always does.

“I think I was only there for two of my four and the second one, Mark, I only just about got there in time.

“I’m sure Max knows his wife better than most people, so he knows she wouldn’t have been too upset about it.

“If she’d turned round and said, ‘Max I want you with me,’ he would have been with her.

“We’re all human beings and if your wife says she wants you there, you’re there, aren’t you?”

Ehmer is set to make his 200th appearance for Gillingham in Saturday’s home game against Oxford.

The 27-year-old initially joined on loan from QPR in 2014, signing a permanent deal the following summer.

Lovell said: “I can only come from the time I’ve been in charge and when we took over as the gang of four, a long time ago now, he and John Egan were the boys at centre-half. He was brilliant then and since I’ve known him he’s been a true professional and so consistent.

“It’s significant, getting to 200 games, and he’s still got another season-and-a-half left with us, so he could take that up to 250 quite easily and hopefully beyond.

“He’s a really good pro and a very likeable man as well. We trust each other and we get on really well.”