Striker Josh Parker believes Gillingham are capable of a top-six finish – this season.

The Gills climbed up to 17th in League 1 on Boxing Day after a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United.

Since Steve Lovell took over as manager, initially on a caretaker basis, the Gills have lost only twice in 12 games – play-off form.

Parker said: “If we carry on in this vein of form, I think we can push for promotion, top-six definitely.

“When I step on the pitch and see the players that we’ve got and what others have, maybe bar Wigan, there is no team better than us.

“Over the last few months, we have been as good as anyone.

“At the start of the season we had that base of fitness which I think was superior to most of the other teams.

“After Christmas a lot of teams take a dip and we are getting stronger.

“It will be an interesting second half of the season. The game against AFC Wimbledon, if we get three points there, then it will be a different ball game.”

A win over Wimbledon on Saturday could leave the Gills mid-table – they were second-bottom when Lovell took over in mid-October.

Read more from Josh Parker in this week's Medway Messenger newspaper.