Kevin Maher is getting a new lease of life in the Gillingham midfield as he and the club revel in the recent upturn in fortunes.

Maher (pictured) spent the final weeks of last season as an unused substitute and was in and out of the side in the early months of this season under Andy Hessenthaler.

That all changed, though, after the FA Cup defeat to Dover in the beginning of November.

Hessenthaler needed an experienced head to help restore confidence and Maher has been an ever-present in the team since then.

The 34-year-old midfielder has been a key man as Gillingham have turned from no-hopers to promotion-chasers.

Maher said: "I’m enjoying my football again. I’m playing every week at the moment and want that to continue.

"We’ve got ourselves into a position where we could do something and everyone is looking forward to the rest of the season.

"We were all disappointed after Dover but we’ve stuck together and worked hard.

"The spirit is good, as it was even when we were going through our bad spell."