Gillingham’s new signing Mark Byrne is confident of making the grade in League 1.

The 27-year-old midfielder steps up a level after joining the Gills from League 2 Newport County, where he played 88 league games over two seasons.

Apart from a couple of brief appearances for Nottingham Forest in 2008 he has played for Burton and Rushden in the Blue Square Premier and in League 2 with Barnet and Newport.

He is the latest player to be given a chance to prove his worth by Gills boss Justin Edinburgh at a higher level and he can’t wait to get going.

Byrne said: “I have mostly played in League 2 but I am more than capable and back myself for League 1. I have had a good couple of seasons with Newport and I just want to kick on now.

“I scored some good goals last season but I would like to score more. I was playing more defensively at Newport last season but the goals I scored were very good goals. I will look to chip in with a good few goals this season if I can."

Edinburgh considered signing Byrne in January but with his former club battling relegation he opted against it in the end.

Byrne said: “I knew there was interest around Christmas time but I wanted to keep playing my football. I have worked with Justin before and once I found out he was interested I was more than happy to work with him again.

“I am a box-to-box midfielder, I like to get stuck in, I give 100% all the time and I also like to nip in with the odd goal.”