Gills striker praises team spirit..
Gills striker Danny Kedwell says he feels more confident in himself after netting eight times in the opening ten matches of the season.
Kedwell scored from the penalty spot on Tuesday evening to help earn the Gills a 1-0 win over Southend at MEMS Priestfield, and he says the fact he is top goal scorer in the division is motivating him even further.
He said: “It’s good at the minute and I just need to keep it going, I’m full of confidence at the moment and that’s what I didn’t have at the beginning of last season.
“The manager believes in me and every time I go out he says I’m going to score.
“I know that I have to be on my toes all the time and now I’m top goal scorer in the league - he’s a great manager and it just goes to show what he is doing.”
Kedwell was delighted to get three points during the week and said the squad have a strong togetherness which is getting them through the games.
He said: “We put a great shift in and at half time the manager said this is when we should show the fans what we worked for in pre-season with the work rate and fitness.
“It showed and it was great to come away with a victory, especially against a decent side.
“We are all in it together and that’s what gets you through games and what wins you leagues. The coaching staff believes in us and they have been superb.”
The striker said a lot of hard work has been put in to get to where they are at the moment, and said from a personal point of view it’s something he has thought about doing from a young age and believes the team are more than capable of beating Port Vale at the weekend.
He added: “The team spirit and the fitness we have got here we can go there and win without a shadow of a doubt.
“They are scoring a lot of goals, I’ve played at Fleetwood while at Wimbledon and that’s a tough place to go so to beat them 5-2 is good. It will be tough on a massive pitch like that.
“It’s what I have always dreamt of as a kid - what has happened to me has been a great journey and we just need to keep it going and the next thing is to get promoted with Gillingham.
“It’s hard work, especially when you have to get forward and then come back and defend. I came off feeling a bit sick but it’s worth it and when you come away with three points its good feeling like that.”
Deon Burton has partnered Kedwell up front on a few occasions so far, and he believes the duo are working well together, although he believes he will be hanging on to penalty duties for the time being.
He said: “He’s helping me massively because he’s played at a higher level, he’s a great lad and he gets me going. We get on really well and I think we are a good partnership.
“As long as we win it doesn’t matter who scores. We have the ability all over the park to get goals – this time last year we may not have won that game. Last season we conceded nearly the most goals but it shows we are very solid.
“Deon is on the training pitch taking a few penalties but I just walk off and let him get on with it!”