Gillingham forward Brandon Hanlan says he can’t wait for the season to start – and is determined to better last year.

“[It’s] definitely a big year for me” said Hanlan, who managed nine goals in his first full season of League One football last term.

“Going off the back of last season I’m just trying to start off where I left off and keep pushing forward.

“I had a good start last season. I’m trying to start it even better this season, so we’ll wait and see.”

When asked if he has any targets, Hanlan insisted he simply wants to improve.

“To beat last season definitely. That’s what you want to do every season, just keep on progressing.

“I finished the season well, started to get a couple more goals. If I can just maintain it for the whole of next season I could push past my target.

“It’s given me a bit of extra confidence, knowing that I can play in League One and knowing what I can do in League One and knowing that I can do better.”

Hanlan has had to start from scratch in terms of impressing new manager Steve Evans after the manager that bought him to the club, Steve Lovell, left Gillingham with two games left of last season.

Hanlan is, though, impressed with Evans’ methods so far.

“He’s been good. I feel like he’s bought a lot of intensity to the club and he’s bought a different way of playing as well. I feel like all the boys are learning their roles and it will click by the start of the season.

“They (the new coaching staff) like to go forward so that’s one thing which is good for us strikers. When the team is playing forward, we can make runs off of it and hopefully get more goals as well.”

“It’s football so gaffers will change all of the time. You’ve just got to keep belief in yourself. You know what you can do you’ve just got to show it on the pitch and hopefully that’s enough to be playing games week in, week out.”

And Hanlan is raring to kick the season off.

“I’m feeling good. Obviously pre-season is tough so its going to be hard, but all together I feel good and I feel like each game counts with the extra minutes.

“Pre-season is definitely important. You want to build your confidence, you want to feel good on the ball, feel good off the ball.

“We’re learning new things, different ways of playing, so pre-season is definitely crucial.

“I’m buzzing to get to Doncaster and start off the league with a good result.”

Like a number of other players, the forward feels confident about the season and is eying promotion.

“I reckon the sky is the limit really” said the former Charlton striker.

“You can never really say what we’re going to do but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying we can get promotion.

“I’d say we can go anywhere this season really.”

One new face Hanlan has notably gelled with is on-loan Bournemouth attacker Mikael Ndjoli.

“He’s good to play with” mentioned Hanlan.

“We’re still both learning as well, we haven’t played with each other before. We didn’t know each other so it’s definitely new but he’s a good player and a good guy as well so I’m definitely looking forward to playing with him more.

“We’ve got good additional people to the group. Obviously it’s different but I feel like everyone that’s come in has picked it up fast and we’ve got some good players in now as well.”