Gillingham striker Dominic Samuel has been talking about his return to the club and how when Steve Evans came calling, he jumped at the chance to return to Priestfield.

Speaking before the home game with Blackpool, Samuel told us, “The boys and the Gaffer have made me feel so welcome and coming back to Priestfield was a no brainer really!”

“I was here in a loan spell a few years ago and back then everyone made me feel so welcome – I know it’s a different group of boys and managers, but its still Gillingham Football Club, it’s still the same club and they’ve just made me so welcome to be back!”

In Samuel’s first spell at Priestfield, Justin Edinburgh’s side led the League at Christmas only to fall away as the striker recalled, “The whole experience when I was here last time was just great for me at that time and it was unfortunate that we weren’t able to go all the way considering we’d done really well that year, so hopefully we’ll be able to do something positive this year.”

“Hopefully, I can bring my experience to the team and help us push forward, the last time I was here we really were close to promotion until the last few games when it didn’t really end so well for us.”

“So hopefully, the second time round here, I can learn from that experience and pass it onto the team and hopefully we can push further than we did!”

“I had other offers and a few other options. But it really was a no brainer to come to Gillingham after I had a good loan spell and it’s close to home with family and friends, and you’re happier off the pitch, it becomes a big thing when you’re playing on the pitch as well!”

“I feel like I’m matured more as a player since then. Hopefully, that’ll be experience that I can give to the squad this year and hopefully I can use that experience to help push the team forward this year.”

“I think my understanding that I have about the game has improved – different teams and different oppositions but I think I’ve matured more in finding a weakness in the opposition team and using that to my strengths.”

Samuel’s “second coming” at Priestfield against Blackpool at the weekend will be without a crowd – a point that wasn’t lost of the new Gillingham number nine. “It is a bit upsetting,” he admitted, “but with everything that’s going on, it really does have to be better safe than sorry. But we’re all hoping that the fans will return soon, and it will be lovely to play in front of them again.”

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.