Dennis Oli's substitute appearance against Hartlepool was his first after a pre-season knee injury. Picture: Grant Falvey

By Luke Cawdell

Dennis Oli returned from injury on Saturday determined to make up for lost time.

Oli’s 60th-minute appearance against Hartlepool was warmly received by the Gillingham fans after the winger recovered from a knee injury picked up in pre-season.

The forward missed the start of the campaign after the injury against Calais and admitted he was pleased to have got through his first game unscathed.

He said: “The first game back is always the toughest and the fans singing my name got me through. I felt no reaction to the injury and that’s a good sign for me.

"The gaffer (Mark Stimson) has all the confidence in me and that makes me feel confident on the pitch. He has faith in me and I just want to repay him."

Reflecting on his time on the sidelines, Oli said: “I’m a calm guy and I’m always smiling but I wasn’t best pleased when that happened,” he said.

“There were some ridiculous challenges that day and it was a silly tackle. I was upset because I felt really sharp as well. You have to try and ride those challenges but I didn’t even see it coming. It was just a silly challenge.”

Last season an injury to the sesamoid bone in his foot kept Oli sidelined for three months. Because of that he has to wear special inserts and knows fitness is key to a successful run in the side.

He said: “I’m naturally quite fit but you do need that match fitness which is totally different because the tempo is really quick. When I went for a first run on Saturday I felt like I was breathing through a straw but I got through it."

Oli is now set for a starting role against Blackburn in Tuesday’s Carling Cup second round and can’t wait.

He said: “As long as I am out there I will just run my socks off until I can’t run any more. I would be delighted if I did start.”