The Shouting Men: Gillingham full-back Ryan Jackson writes exclusively for the KM Group
Published: 00:00, 22 October 2015
Updated: 12:44, 22 October 2015
With injury and suspension behind me, I am focusing on getting back playing again.
I know I need to train hard now and let the gaffer make his decision and go from there.
I missed three games due to injury after pulling my groin at Fleetwood.
It’s not the type of injury I have really had before and I wasn’t too sure how it was going to be. It was a relief to find out from the scan that it was just a grade one.
It was sore to start with but gradually it healed. As a fast player you are always prone to muscle injuries.
I just need to make sure I stay on top of my injury prevention stuff. You can’t always help it, that’s life.
We are in the gym quite a bit but I am a strong and physical player and don’t need to use it that much because I don’t want to get too heavy and damage my speed.
If I was too heavy and bulking up I wouldn’t be able to move as fast or be as sharp. You have to balance it and you need to use your own knowledge of your body to know what is best.
I don’t really practise my speed but we do drills like quick-feet and I put in the effort then but I do think it is just natural.
I came back from injury for the game at Crewe but picked up a booking and had to sit out Tuesday’s fixture against Scunthope, serving a one-match suspension.
I had been on four bookings for a while. I knew I was on four but it is hard because the way I play I like to get physical and use my body and sometimes it is a foul, it is just one of those things.
Before the injury I had been an ever-present.
I have noticed a difference between the divisions since stepping up to League 1. The opposition is better, the games are tougher and the style of football better and different – the ball is not in the air as much.
I am enjoying it.
Read the full column in Friday's Medway Messenger
Read more
Football Gills Column Gills News Isle of Sheppey Sport Maidstone Sport Malling Sport Medway Sport Sevenoaks Sport Sittingbourne Sport Sports Columns Tonbridge Sport Tunbridge Wells Sport Weald SportMore by this author
KentOnline reporter