Striker Cody McDonald is hoping he can help shoot down a club who once tried to sign him.

Gillingham’s in-form frontman will be leading the line against high-flying Peterborough United on Boxing Day.

Back in 2011, Peterborough made their move for McDonald after he had scored 26 goals for the Gills during a loan spell. Their advances were snubbed by parent club Norwich and he eventually joined Coventry instead.

McDonald said: “After the season here they tried to sign me and put a couple of bids in when I was at Norwich but they didn’t accept them and that’s why I ended up going to Coventry.

“It’s the way football goes. Some things happen, some don’t."

McDonald, 30, has continued to be a regular on the scoresheet, taking his Gills tally to 76 and a place among the club’s all-time leading scorers. His latest came last Saturday with the only goal as the Gills beat MK Dons 1-0.

Gills follow up their Peterborough trip with a game at Millwall on Friday, December 30.

They were at The Den a year ago and enjoyed a memorable 3-0 win but it was a bittersweet occasion for McDonald, who suffered a broken foot in the game.

He said: “I got injured there but it was as good an away performance as you will get, from a team at this level. It was a great day, a great team performance, and 3-0 away at Millwall isn’t something many teams do."

Looking ahead to the festive double-header, he said: “It’s a test to see where we are at the minute.

“I believe that we are playing well and last Saturday was a good performance. We just have to keep the momentum going.

"As a group we have to look up to the play-offs. We are capable with the squad we have.”

Read the full interview in Friday's Medway Messenger.