Gillingham midfielder Billy Bingham is well prepared to make an impact.

Bingham has put last season’s injury problems behind him and was a standout performer for the Gills in their 7-1 win over Sheppey United on Saturday.

He captained the side in the friendly and was delighted to be back in action.

He said: “It’s good to get the first game out of the way.

"I have done everything I can to get to this position, so I am feeling confident in myself that I can go out there and get to full fitness as soon as I can now.

“I can’t feel any better in terms of my leg and everything else. It’s good to blow off the cobwebs and put the mental side of it out of the way.”

Bingham’s last appearance for the Gills was at the end of October, injury restricting him to just 10 games during his first season at the club.

An ankle break led to him missing a large chunk of the season and he admits his desperation to see some action in the final few weeks led to him picking up a thigh strain.

“I did some extras off my own back, so it was my own fault,” he said.

“I was just too eager, I was determined to get back and back to what I was doing before but I have had the two-month break now, that has given my leg, and my quad (thigh muscle), some recovery and I have done everything I can to be out there and be back.

“I got concussed twice in the space of a week (last season) and then had a bruised foot, which was annoying.

"I had some weird injuries. Fingers crossed I can have an injury-free season this time and play as many games as I can.”

With so many problems last year, Bingham is taking it one step at a time this time around.

He said: “Other than staying injury free, I am not going to set any plans, because I have done that in the past and not hit them. It does add extra pressure, so each week and each training session I will take it as it comes.”

Bingham was one of a handful of experienced players at Sheppey and coach Ben White was delighted with his first performance back.

“He was excellent," he said.

“He came through the game fine. He is an experienced pro and I thought you could see with Billy’s performance he was an experienced player out there and on another level to everyone else, probably. That was great to see.”