Gillingham striker Adam Birchall has told KSN how he was thrilled to have played ninety minutes against former side Dover Athletic on Tuesday night.

The 27 year old spent two seasons at The Crabbble and on Tuesday night he lead out Gillingham against his former side and went on to score in the 2-1 victory.

Last season proved to be the most frustrating of Birchall’s career, spent on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury sustained in the pre-season game against Welling United, but a year on and the former Barnet and Arsenal striker is back doing what he loves best, playing football and scoring goals.

Tuesday night was the latest stage in Birchall’s rehabilitation and the first time in over a year that he has played a whole game and talking to KSN after the game, he admitted he was thrilled to have made it through unscathed:

“It was my first ninety minutes, so the game was two occassions for me. It felt weird going into the away dressing room, but when I got out onto the pitch, I just switched off and played my game.”

“I wasn’t sure what sort of reception I’d get, but Dover has got a great place in my heart and that’s why the fans gave me a great reception.”

“It was a landmark in my mind doing ninety minutes and getting on the scoresheet was important for me and I was delighted with it.”

“You want to be scoring in pre-season and building up to the season, so it is all about consistancy and hunger, so it was nice that I’ve still got that hunger even though I’ve been out for over a year. If anything, I’m hungrier than ever.”

“I did start to tire towards the end, I’m not going to lie and ended up in midfield at one point and I was grateful for being there and keeping the ball.”

Gillingham are unbeaten in their pre-season campaign with two high profile games against Charlton Athletic and Watford to come. With that, all of the club’s three main strikers, Birchall, Danny Kedwell and Ben Strevens have all been scoring. Competition for places is sure to be hot, but that doesn’t phase Birchall and he told KSN how he thrives on the pressure of trying to secure a first team place:

“When there’s competition for places, everyone is playing for their shirt and the gaffer and the coaching staff have come in and are pushing us hard. You can’t let your standards slip as they’ll be quick to tell you, so you have to work your hardest if you want a shirt.”

“At the minute, it’s about getting minutes under my belt and trying to press the gaffer.”

“Both Charlton and Watford are leagues above us, so it will differ slightly from the teams we’ve faced so far.”

The season starts for The Gills with a trip to Bristol City on Tuesday 14th August in the Capital One Cup and Birchall told KSN how that game is looming large on the horizon:

“The season comes around quickly, it always does. It kind of sneaks up on you, but we all feel we are heading in the right direction, working hard on the training ground and the gaffer is getting his ideas across and we are all playing the way he wants to play.”

“I’m sure in two weeks time we will all be raring to go.”

There are rumours the club are looking at bringing in at least one more striker to add to the competition for places, but that doesn’t worry Birchall who feels it will be good for the squad:

“To be a professional footballer you have got to back yourself all the way. It’s something I didn’t really do at Arsenal when I Was there and got to the first team, so when you play, you’ve got to think you’re good enough to play, worry about yourself and do your best for the team.”

Most strikers have a habit of setting themselves a target of goals for the upcoming season and like many others Birchall is keeping his close to his chest:

“I always do, but they are always my own targets and I’ll keep them to myself and I might let you know at the end of the season!”

If Birchall even scores half the goals he did in his last season for Dover Athletic (44), Gills fans will be more than happy this season.