Josh Parker can’t wait to prove his worth after signing his new two-year deal with Gillingham.

The 26-year-old frontman was handed a lifeline at the end of last season, moving to Gills after life with Red Star Belgrade turned sour. The player hopes to now repay that faith.

He said: “I have so much more to offer and this is why I am so excited. It’s the first time I have ever been excited about a pre-season.

“I want people to see what I can do when I am at my fittest, not just coming in and building my fitness up towards the end of the season.

“I was just getting up to speed. I am glad it came to an end and all the relegation battle was cleared up. Now the manager has a chance to implement what he wants to do and I am going to be part of that.

“I need to make sure I take the opportunity, it is a massive one. I don’t feel like I have peaked, not even close to it.

“When I was abroad in Slovenia and Red Star, people out there have seen it but I want to show it here. Towards the end of the season, from the Charlton game onwards, I showed glimpses.

“I just want to play football, like I am a kid again, like I am 12, just let me play football.

"Charlton was 100% my best 45 minutes and Northampton was my best overall game, even the games in between I felt I did well.

“I like to think I will get that chance because the manager has seen it. I will do all the stuff he wants me to do tactically but if he lets me have the freedom, then I think I can do so much for the team."

Read the full story in this week's Medway Messenger.