The Christmas period looks set to give defender Alex Lacey the opportunity to show what he can do.

Lacey, 25, would love to nail down a regular spot in the centre of defence and with Max Ehmer out injured, now is his chance.

He played 90 minutes last weekend in the draw with Wycombe – his first league start since mid-October.

“If I can get a run of games over Christmas I would be delighted,” said Lacey.

“And if I can stay in and do well that would be brilliant. Hopefully I can keep playing well and stay in the team.”

Ehmer is expected to miss the whole of the Christmas period after dislocating his collarbone.

Lacey has made just 17 league starts since moving to the Gills following an impressive spell in the division below at Yeovil Town.

He has another six months left on his contract and will be looking to show he is worthy of a new deal.

He said: “We played in tough conditions last Saturday but I was happy to start and to be out there again.

“I came on in the match before against Scunthorpe. When you are on the bench you always have to stay ready. A few games go past and you are not involved and you think ‘well, this might be the same’ but it is important to be mentally ready.

“I was glad to be out there. We put on a good display and defended for our lives.”

Lacey’s chance comes through Ehmer’s misfortune.

“These things happen in football,” noted the defender.

“You don’t want to see one of your mates get injured but it happens. We are all fighting for a place in the team and any chance I get, I will hopefully take.

“Obviously I am not happy for Max to get injured but that is the way football is. If I can get a good run in the team that would be ideal.

“If I can string some games together and show what I can do then hopefully I will be in the team come the end of the season.

“That would put me in a good position, but we will have to wait and see, things change pretty quickly in football. Hopefully I can get a good run and a new deal.”

The Gills have a tough run of games coming up, against three sides in the top six, starting at Charlton this Saturday.

Lacey said: “We go into games with the mentality that we can beat anyone and if we do that it will serve us well.

“Sometimes the teams around the middle or at the bottom can be as tough as those at the top. They are all fighting for different things at this stage, some of them for survival.

“It is a different challenge every game but we take confidence knowing that we can beat anyone.”