On-loan Gillingham defender Zech Medley has insisted the team are ready to get going ahead of the start of their season this Saturday.

The Gills face Southend in the first round of the Carabao Cup at the weekend, and although it’s not the start everyone would have wanted in terms of the season starting late and the order of the fixtures, Medley, speaking on Thursday, claimed that he and his teammates just want to get back to playing football again.

“It has been an odd one” said Medley, speaking of the disrupted summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have been working hard getting our fitness up. We have a few games under our belts now so it has been good getting out there getting minutes where we can and getting that sharpness back. We are ready now to get started.

“This week has been a lot sharper in training. The quality has gone up again and everyone has shown their willingness to play and there are spots to fight for. Everyone is getting on it and realising it is getting real again, so we are ready for it.”

Although on loan from Premier League side Arsenal, Medley is familiar with his surroundings, growing up in the Gillingham area, attending a local school and going to Gillingham games as a child.

Now he is playing for the team he used to admire.

“I moved here when I was really young” he said. “I grew up in the Rochester area and went to the Howard School, so it has been a bit strange coming back, but it is great, and I am ready to get going.

“I played in a cup final here at Priestfield back in year seven here and now I play for Gillingham, which is great, and I am proud.

“When I was really young, I came with a few of my friends from school. We saw all the players and were imagining playing at a professional level, so actually doing it now should be good. I am ready for it and I am buzzing for my debut. I cannot wait to get out there.”

There will be several new faces in the Gillingham squad on Saturday, Medley one of them, with manager Steve Evans having added 10 players to his setup so far over the summer.

The team have been away on a training camp, but are now back, and Medley admitted that the trip helped the team as they all get to know each other better.

He said: “There have been a lot of new additions to the team, I have come in as a new player as well, and I think we are just trying to build the connection and trying to gel together. It has been going well, each week the intensity has been going up and we have been building and hopefully we can keep going with that.

“The team bonding has been great. The trip away was key for us in terms of getting to know each other a lot more, rather than just coming to training and going home.

“Spending time together, having lunch, having chats – it has been great, and we have a better understanding of each other, and I think that is key going into the season.”

Communication is going to be key for this season for the Gills, especially at the back where, perhaps apart from fullback Ryan Jackson, there aren’t many experienced heads.

With captain Max Ehmer and now 36-year-old Barry Fuller departing, Jackson (30), Medley (20), Chris Maghoma (22), Robbie McKenzie (22), Jack Tucker (20), and Connor Ogilvie (24) are Gillingham’s defensive options.

Medley, though, insisted the lack of experience at the back won’t be an issue.

“Jack and Connor either side of me have been great” said Medley. “They are fairly young as well.

“It has been good – we have been building a good connection in training, and I have been talking with them and building the connection going into the season.

“There is not that experienced player at the back at the moment, but us all talking together as a team is something we are working on and we are going to deliver that on the pitch. We are all going to be in it together and I am sure we will come together and stick through it.”

The game against Southend may not carry as much importance as the opening league game of the season a week later against Hull, by Medley claimed the team wants to win every game and will be up to the task.

“Any competitive game we want to win” said the 6’5 defender. “We are definitely ready and having the thought of the cup and going into the next round is something we need to achieve.

“Any opposition we respect. We are ready for the challenge and we will not underestimate anyone, we will just focus on ourselves and show them what we can do and be the best we can.

“It is a cup game, so if you win you are through, if you do not you are out. It is about fighting until the end – we are going to expect them to come at us and want to get the win as well so we have to be prepared for that and take the game to them and make sure it is us who gets the win.”