Curtis Weston has welcomed the competition for places with Rashid Yussuff primed to become the latest addition to Gillingham’s midfield.

The Gills are awash with players fighting for a place in the centre of the pitch but Weston (pictured) isn’t worried about having to scrap for a shirt.

"There are some dynamite midfielders in there now," said the 22-year-old.

"With myself, Kevin Maher, Stuart Lewis, Adam Miller, Mark Bentley and Toks (Yusseff) there is a lot of competition and everyone is playing for their places. I’m just trying to make sure I have that place at the start of the season.

"Competition is healthy and I like it. I played a lot of games last season and I want to do the same this season. If it means me having to battle for my place then I’ll do that.

"I just want to play games and I’ll work hard to get that shirt."

Weston recently agreed a two-year extension to his Gillingham contract which ties him to the club until the summer of 2012.

"It was great to sign a new deal and those three years give me some security," he said. "I enjoy playing here and it’s good to sign a long contract.

"The gaffer has a lot of belief in me and I have belief in myself. Hopefully in years to come I can kick on."

Weston ended Tuesday's pre-season game at Bromley with a dead leg but manager Mark Stimson is expecting the midfielder to be back in training on Thursday.

Stimson said: "He was a bit sloppy on the ball and I said to him that in the middle of the pitch you can't be sloppy because you will get caught.

"The Bromley boys in the middle put themselves about in the right way and he got caught. I think he will be fine on Thursday."