It may be Christmas, he may have a newborn child on the horizon but Danny Jackman hasn’t ruled himself out of the reckoning for first team selection.

The midfielder is set to endure a hectic time behind the scenes as his wife is due to give birth to their second child but it hasn’t distracted him from trying to force his way into manager Andy Hessenthaler’s plans.

“I’ll always try and put myself in contention,” said Jackman (pictured), who is also celebrating his birthday next week.

“You just have to try and take your chance when you get it and we’ll wait and see what happens.

“There are a lot of players in the squad at the moment fighting for positions.”

Jackman is still looking to reach prime condition after missing the first three months of the season with a knee injury and is now eager to taste first team action again.

He said: “I’ve never doubted my own ability but when you’ve had an injury that can be in the back of your mind. If I’m fighting fit then I’m hundred per cent confident in my ability.

“I’m back now and feeling good. It’s been a slow process coming back from injury and I’ve just had a chest infection which has been going around. Despite that I managed 90 minutes in the reserves last week when I was feeling at my worst. You can always find that bit extra anyway when you play for the first team and I would be alright. I could do 90 minutes.”

Positions are up for grabs in the team following the departure of loan pair Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee. Both returned to Peterborough after Gillingham’s last match.

Jackman, one of the club’s most versatile players, is ready for selection if called upon and hopes the impact of the Peterborough pair is not forgotten.

“I was involved in the wins at Oxford, Barnet and Macclesfield and it was all good. The loan boys who came in were superb,” said Jackman.

“A lot of credit goes to them because they added fresh impetus to the squad, they came with no fear and helped us all with a fresh outlook.

“They have shown us the way forward and confidence is back up now. Previously we had been lacking in belief but that has come across now. Losing can become a habit and now we’ve broken that we can make winning a habit.”

With Posh pair Lee and Whelpdale gone, who would you play in midfield for the Gills? Comment below.