Gillingham midfielder Armani Little is working hard to make up for a challenging summer.
Little participated in the early stages of pre-season and played the first match against Millwall, but suffered an injury setback. He made his return for the season opener, a 4-1 victory over Carlisle.
Despite the frustration of being sidelined, Little is catching up and regaining his form. He commented, “It was frustrating because I felt fit in the first couple of weeks and played the first half against Millwall. Injuries put you behind, but I’m someone who works hard and stays focused. I needed to get back for the season’s start, and thankfully I managed to do that. I missed some games but kept up with the running, and now I’m starting to feel fitter.”
Expected to play a significant role this season under manager Mark Bonner, Little has been named vice-captain. He emphasizes the importance of leadership on the field, saying, “I’ve developed my vocal presence as I’ve grown older. I work on it continuously to be a central figure in the midfield. The manager wants everyone to lead in their way, whether through communication or example, and I believe that’s necessary.”
Little joined Gillingham after leaving AFC Wimbledon, seeking a club with strong promotion ambitions. Having previously experienced promotion with Woking and narrowly missing out with Torquay United, he is eager to succeed in the Football League.
He explained, “When I spoke with Gillingham, their project and ambition really attracted me. We all aim for promotion, but we need to manage expectations internally. We know what we want to achieve this season. I’ve had promotion experience with Woking, and I’m eager to replicate that in the league.”
Last season, Little excelled in tackles and interceptions. He believes he will be crucial for Gillingham’s success this season and aims to contribute both defensively and offensively.
He added, “The club’s vision matched my desired role, and that was a key factor in my decision to join. I’m an energetic, box-to-box player, and I hope to score a few goals as well. We’re still getting to know each other on the pitch, but we’re improving. We have clear goals for the season and need to keep progressing game by game.”
Looking ahead to the weekend’s match against Chesterfield, Little said, “Chesterfield are favorites for promotion, so they’ll come here looking for a result. We need to defend our home turf with intent to win. We’ve prepared all week and are ready to execute our plan and secure the three points.”
