Gillingham’s stand-in skipper Ryan Jackson is enjoying the new responsibility.

The 30-year-old is the third oldest player in a young Gills squad this season and was handed the armband after injuries to the captain and the vice skipper.

It’s his first time captaining a team and it’s been so far, so good for the right-back, as the Gills have won two out of two since he landed the role.

“You have to take it in your stride,” he said speaking after victory over Blackpool .

“It’s sad that the boys who were captain, Demps and Stu, have got injured. I have to try and step up and hopefully lead the boys to some good performances and try and use my experience.”

Dempsey was injured in Gills’ first league game of the season and O’Keefe suffered a broken leg days later in a League Cup match.

Was he worried about taking on the role?! He said: “A few of the boys were saying it's a little cursed but you just take it as it comes, try and enjoy it and try your best.

“Some things you can’t prevent, that’s football, that’s life, but just try and give 100% and see where that takes you.

“This is the first time I have been given the captaincy, I always talk and encourage and try and lead by example. Hopefully that can continue and I can help the boys.”

Jackson is back at the Gills for a second spell. He previously played 80 games for the club over two seasons between 2015 and 2017.

One player he remembers back from that time was fellow defender Jack Tucker. Under Evans, Tucker has established himself as a regular, with interest from teams higher up. He was a 15-year-old hopeful last time Jackson was at the club.

“I saw shocked when I was him again,” Jackson said, of a player who has grown immensely in stature as a player and a person in the last few years.

“He was just a little boy then. He has come on leaps and bounds and he has improved, shown he is capable of playing this level if not higher. He has been doing really well.”

Tucker is just one of many young player in the Gills ranks and Jackson is enjoying the dressing room, one that reminds him of his last time at the club.

Back then, under Justin Edinburgh, there were youngsters like Bradley Dack and John Egan in the team. Young hopefuls, with talent and plenty of energy, just like now.

“The boys are showing a willingness to keep working hard and keep trying to improve,” he said,

“Everyone is striving for the same things, we’re working hard together, everyone gets on really well and there are a few local boys as well and we are gelling quite well at the moment.

“Anything is possible. It is early days, we are a young team and we need to keep building and improving and keep getting three points on the board.”

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