New Gillingham signing Tahvon Campbell knows a thing or two about a relegation scrap.

He has been pitched into battles elsewhere during previous loan moves, helping Yeovil, Notts County and Forest Green in avoiding the drop.

Yeovil hovered above the League 2 drop zone during his two loan spells at Huish Park, County were just a point clear of trouble when he turned up in Nottingham while Forest Green were in the basement division’s bottom two when he first arrived there.

It’s been quite an experience for a player who is still only 22 and seeking some home comforts after much time on the road.

He has yet to play for the Gills, sitting on the bench at Coventry and in the stands last weekend, but he’s confident he can make a difference.

Campbell said: “I would rather go out and get games than sit around worrying if I’ve damaged my CV by doing this and that.

“I am still young and what it has done for me is help me understand the game more. I am hoping that sooner or later I get a full season somewhere so I can show what I can do after gaining that experience.

“I have been in teams where they have been in a similar position and none of them went down. I don’t shy away from a challenge and I want to come here and help.

“It was the same situation with Forest Green before I made the move there permanent. We turned it around and the boys are now pushing for promotion.”

Campbell joined Forest Green in the summer on a one-year deal after a successful loan spell there during the back end of the 2017/18 season. He had been released by West Brom, who he had been with since the age of nine.

He played 25 games for Rovers during the current campaign, in a push for promotion from League 2, and was a surprise addition for the Gills on deadline day.

The forward became available after his game-time became more limited following the return to Rovers of their star striker Christian Doidge from Bolton.

Bolton and Forest Green had a public falling out over Doidge, who was set to sign for the Championship side permanently after an initial loan spell, but ended up back with the League 2 club after the deal fell through.

Forest Green boss Mark Cooper said: “We probably felt we had one too many (strikers) so we felt it made sense to let Tav go.”

Campbell understood the situation, saying: “He (Doidge) has done a lot for the club. He is the all-time top scorer, he went straight back in and I found it hard to get game-time after that.

“They didn’t say I had to go, I didn’t feel that way, but if there was an option to test myself in the league above then why not try?”

Campbell has familiar faces around him at Priestfield. He was in the youth team at West Brom when Bradley Garmston turned pro there and played alongside both Tom Eaves and Alex Lacey during his time at Yeovil.

He’s looking forward to linking up with Eaves again, even if it’s once more at the wrong end of the table. Eaves was far from prolific during his time at Yeovil and Campbell believes that was down to the way they set up to survive.

He said: “It was tough there but we just tried to make sure we kept as many clean sheets as possible. We didn’t score many but the team wasn’t really focused on trying to get goals, it was more about making sure we didn’t lose and there weren’t a lot of opportunities at the time.

“We kept the team up and it was more about building a base and that’s what we did but I know what kind of player he is and if you put the ball in the box, he is a handful. I know his style and I would like to play with him again.”

Campbell has had to be patient but will hope to get an opportunity this weekend after boss Steve Lovell threatened changes following the 4-1 loss to Barnsley.

“I am just trying to make sure that in training I am doing the best I can to show I am ready,” he said. “I feel like I can bring something different to the team.”

It’s a shop window for Campbell, who will be seeking a new deal somewhere in the summer, but hasn’t ruled out a return to his parent club.

Asked if his time there was at an end, he said: “For me, no, but it is up to what they think. If I play well here then there could be options, here or there.

“I hope the boys there (at Forest Green) can carry on how they have been doing and get promoted, I feel like I have played a part.

“This is a new challenge, a fresh place, and we’ll see what happens come the summer.”