I´ll be playing up front

A new season, a new start for yours truly but I must admit it came as some surprise when our manager, Neale Cooper, told me I´d be starting as a centre-forward tomorrow against Colchester United.

With Darius Henderson having joined Watford yesterday and our new signing Paul Shields still to have tied up all the loose ends following his arrival from Forfar, I have come in as an emergency striker to play alongside Darren Byfield. I have played the position a couple of times for the youth team but I think the manager is hoping my pace will cause our opponents a few problems.

It was disappointing to lose a player of Darius´ ability, but not entirely unexpected. Watford had already come in with three or four bids and I think the offer was too good for the club to turn down in the end. Gillingham have lost plenty of players in the past to bigger clubs but have always battled back and I expect us to do the same this time.

After my injury problems last season and subsequent absence from the team under Stan Ternant, I can´t wait to kick a ball again. To be honest, I don´t know too much about our opponents, but it´s vital we get off to a good start following the disappointment of relegation.

While we have had a big turnover of players this summer and a new manager arrive, we still have the core of last season´s side in place and that gives us confidence for the new season. Hopefully we can give everyone at Priestfield a cheer again tomorrow and three points would set us on our way nicely for the trip to Port Vale on Tuesday night.