Justin Edinburgh believes Gillingham’s big summer signing Paul Konchesky still has the desire to succeed.

Konchesky has already had a top career, including international caps, European football and playing in the top flight, but Edinburgh hopes there is more success to come.

It’s why the Gills handed him a one-year deal at the end of last week, adding vital experience to a squad that faltered in the final weeks of the previous campaign.

Edinburgh said: “The thing for me was the desire and the look in his eye. He wants to be playing and to still be successful. He hasn’t come here for a ride, he has come to be successful and that can only serve us well.

“We finished ninth in the division and if you look at budget and expenditure we probably should have been about 20th. We can’t rest on that, we know expectations are high and we have to continue that. Bringing Paul in gives us a better chance.

“We are a very good club, going in the right direction, and the chairman deserves praise for the signing.”

Konchesky has two England caps to his name and his CV includes the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Leicester, but the 35-year-old will now be part of a team whose challenge is to fight for promotion in League 1.

“This is a signing that shows our intention for the season,” added Edinburgh.

“We recognised we were short of experience in the dressing room last season and it’s clear he has a burning desire to continue to keep on achieving big objectives and not let his career fade out. This made me really push the signing through.”