Danny Spiller returned for the Gills on Saturday at Priestfield Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Danny Spiller is hoping to help banish Gillingham’s away-day blues with a cup-shock at Norwich on Tuesday night.

The midfielder made his first competitive appearance for the Gills since leaving for Millwall in 2007 on Saturday.

He is, however, well aware of the club’s problems away from Priestfield last season, where they didn’t win a single match, and will be doing his utmost to put that right early on.

"It wont be easy but what a great place to go and try and put that record straight," he said.

"There is going to be a good crowd there and the surface looks lovely. I think from what we saw of Norwich (on Friday night) they didn’t churn out an excellent performance and I think it’s a good time to go there. We can get them early while they are not on fire and that will be great to get a monkey off our back now.

"I wasn’t part of the team last season but I feel like I am a part of it from what did happen because there is a lot of talk about it. There wasn’t an away win and we are looking to put that right."

Spiller is enjoying working back under Andy Hessenthaler, having previously enjoyed the best time of his career during his last stint at the Gills.

"The manager has brought a whole new confidence out of me again and I can feel it," he said.

"He was my friend but he is my boss again now. It’s business again and what he says goes for me. I will just get on with my job and just enjoy having him back as my gaffer again.

"I feel I can get back to the 03/04 season when I put my best performances in for the club, which was obviously under Andy Hessenthaler.

"He’s inspiring and that’s when you get the best out of me, when I see people as passionate as him. He gives me confidence with the words he has used with me over pre-season and just the way he structures his sentences sometimes. He just gets things across and gets me on my front foot and I am just looking forward to the next game now on Tuesday."

"I am feeling very fit and it’s just lovely to be back out there. I feel like I’ve got a new lease of life and there is nowhere else I would rather be."

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