Max Ehmer had no problem reverting to a midfield role at the weekend.

The 25-year-old German rekindled some of his youth after switching positions for the match against Charlton.

It was a daunting task for the regular central defender, up against lively pair Billy Clarke and Ricky Holmes but Ehmer emerged from the battle with his head held high.

He said: “I played there for years in the youth team at QPR and when I was on loan at Preston and Stevenage under Graham Westley.

“Professionally, I have probably played about 20-30 games in central midfield. It’s natural for me and I played central midfield longer than I have as centre-back. I enjoy it, it’s good.”

Ehmer picked up a 13th-minute booking for a late tackle on Holmes, meaning he was walking a tightrope for the rest of the game.

He said: “I was that split second too late and I wiped him out.

“It’s never nice to get a booking but I thought I was going to win the ball. It was silly to get booked that early but I dealt with it.

“I have always loved to put in that early tackle when playing centre mid. It set the tempo.”

Ehmer could be called upon to play the role again this weekend.

“I am happy to play wherever,” he said. “I just want to play games.”

His performance helped earn Gills the win and a much-needed three points to lift them out of the bottom four.

He said: “We needed the three points and to get it at home in a local derby was even better.

“We have to knuckle down again and try and get three points on Saturday. We need to stick with it.

“It has been fine margins in games so far. There have been games where we have lost and maybe we could have nicked a point, or games drawn which we could have won, like the MK game. We have to be positive and keep looking forward. There is nothing more we can do."