Jack Nolan is relishing the chance to play in a more central role as Gillingham look to find a winning formula.

The Gills featured a back three for the second successive match on Saturday when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackpool.

Nolan has featured mainly as a wideman since joining the Gills in the close season from Accrington.

“I played in that 10 role at the top of the diamond,” explained Nolan after he returned to the starting XI at the weekend.

“I’ve played there before and it’s a role I like to play if I’m playing in that system rather than playing wing-back.

“I got a lot more of the ball which was great and trying to make things happen. We played better football with more bodies in the middle of the park.

“We’ve played that the last two games, we’ve got to be flexible. We might start off with that and go back to a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, whatever that may be.

“We’ve got to try and not lose our principles in terms of playing football and trying to connect the game. I enjoyed it being in there.”

Nolan certainly got a few sights of goal against Blackpool, although he was particularly disappointed with his first attempt at goal which swerved wide of the far post.

“I thought the first one I had in the first half that went wide, I could have done better with,” he reflected. “For me, it’s being in and around the box and latching onto things that are loose.

“Sometimes when you’re out wide you’ve got a bit more to do but playing that midfield role, you’re in the width of the 18-yard box and everyone wants to be as near to the goal as they can.

“I enjoyed it, I found some good pockets and it’s something to build on personally and as a collective as well.

“I’ve always been a natural wideman but coming in there adds more strings to your bow, especially in the system we played. For me, it’s trying to play in as many positions as I can and keep making myself available for selection.”

It promises to be a big fortnight for the Gills, who host League 2 leaders Port Vale on the back of taking just one points from their last six games.

They’re due to visit Walsall, another side to have made a bright start to the season, the following week although that game could be postponed due to international call-ups.

“The next couple of games, we’ve got Port Vale and Walsall, two teams who are up there,” added Nolan. “We want to try and win every game we can, take as many points as we can.

“You don’t have to fear anyone in this league, anyone can beat anyone, we’ve had that proven to us and other teams have proven that. We treat it no differently to any other game, we’ll have a full week to prepare and then go again against Port Vale.

“We’re not at panic stations, that’s what people need to realise. We don’t want to be where we are but we’re not bottom and we’re not scrapping.

“For us, as players, we need to keep working hard, we’re all here for a reason, as the club sees something in us. We need to keep building relationships and when we go onto the pitch on a Saturday, hopefully the results start to come.

“I don’t think you can throw your toys out of the pram. We can’t show as a group that we’re panicking, because we’re not. You look at the table, you win a few games and you’re back up there. We’ve probably been quite fortunate that results have gone our way when we’ve lost but we can’t rely on that carrying on.

“We’re all professional footballers, we all believe in our ability and we’re here for a reason. For me, it’s back your ability, ignore the outside noise and try and take each game as it comes.

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“For us in the changing room, going back to the performance (against Blackpool), it was more positive to take into Port Vale next week so I know everyone’s going to be sick of hearing it, saying we want to win games but we need to be able to build and no-one’s going to be the complete package at this time of the season.

“We’re getting better, we need to get a bit more clinical in the final third and hopefully that puts in good stead.”