Gillingham striker Danny Kedwell believes his game has improved thanks to interim manager Peter Taylor.

Kedwell has been playing a slightly different role under Taylor in recent weeks, sitting slightly higher up the pitch and operating closer to the penalty area after being asked to be more mobile under previous manager Martin Allen.

With Taylor been given the next two games to impress before Chairman Paul Scally decides who will take over in the long term, Kedwell believes the former England Under 21 manager is getting the best out of him:

“It’s five in five for me now and you’ve got to play with a smile on your face and at the minute I am. He’s brought a different game in and it’s working for me.”

“I’m enjoying it, but it’s a long old season and I’ve just got to make sure I keep scoring them goals and get as many as I can for the club.”

“Peter’s made me not run around so much for the team and he said I’m too honest. He said I need to start thinking about staying in the box a bit more.”

“I thought at first he didn’t know what sort of player I am, but I listened to him and it’s worked. He’s an experienced manager and has managed England, so that’s why you’ve got to listen to him.”

It’s not just Kedwell that has thrived under Taylor with lots of players already having come out and voiced their opinion that he should get the manager’s job full time and the striker believes the side are playing better football in recent weeks:

“He’s such a great manager and been in the game for a long time. He knows his stuff and we all like his game plan. We all know what he wants and you’ll probably see that we’re getting the ball down a lot more now.”

“We’re playing a lot more football, which is what the fans will want to see, not just hoof ball, but it’s going to take time as he’s only been with us a few weeks, but I reckon a few more weeks and he’ll have drilled into us what he wants and we’ll start picking up results.”

When a new manager comes into a club, it can be an unsettling time as players get to know the new man in charge and question whether they will be favoured or shown the door.

Kedwell has risen into the Football League the hard way after failing to land a Gillingham contract as a teenager, going on to play for the likes of Herne Bay and Welling United.

With that in mind, Kedwell told KSN how he believes you have to keep plugging away if you believe you are good enough:

“I got released when I was a younger lad and they didn’t fancy me. I had a trial when I was nineteen under Andy Hessenthaler when the club was in the Championship.”

“About ten years later and he signs me, so you can never say never. I went off and played under some top managers like Ady Pennock (at welling United). He taught me what football is all about, so I know the hard way and the good way.”

“I really enjoy what I do and love every minute of it. I’ve worked hard to get where I am and love nothing more than scoring goals for The Gills.”

Kedwell will be looking to extend his hot goalscoring form when Gillingham entertain Carlisle United at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon.