Dennis Oli training at Priestfield in front of fans waiting for tickets on Saturday

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham winger Dennis Oli is relishing the opportunity to exploit the Wembley pitch.

Oli will be hoping to use his pace to good effect on a surface that will be far removed from what he’s been used to playing on this season in League 2.

The pitch has recently been dug-up and relaid, following high-profile criticism from Premiership managers Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

"It’s like a carpet now and they’ll be no excuses," said the 25-year-old.

"The Wembley pitch will suit me because my biggest attribute is my pace and I just need to make sure I do the right things and don’t over-complicate it.

Gills boss Mark Stimson believes the quality of pitch could suit his team.

"We won’t have any excuses," he said. "No disrespect to Division 2 but that turf is going to be a lot better than what we’re used to playing week in, week out."

Read the full interview with Dennis Oli in Medway Messenger’s 16-page Gills supplement on Friday.