Defender Andy Smith says he’s fit and ready to make an impact after making a permanent move back to Gillingham.
Smith impressed during his loan spell from Hull City last season. He’s relishing the chance to start afresh after recovering from a hamstring injury that cut short his last campaign.
Smith was determined to finalise the switch from Hull City before pre-season so he could hit the ground running.
“I really enjoyed my time here last year and I’m just looking forward to kicking on now,” he said.
“A big thing for me was I wanted to try and get (the move) done before the first day of pre-season, so I could come in on day one with the rest of the lads and start from the beginning with everybody.
“I got injured towards the end of last season, which was disappointing really, because I really enjoy playing under this manager and I wanted to finish the season off on a bit of a high.
“I felt in the games I played, I did alright, so I wanted to kind of kick on, but it wasn’t to be.
“I’m ready now, fully fit and ready to go.”
Smith, 23, started the first two games under Gareth Ainsworth but a torn hamstring left him sidelined and the season ended before he was fit again.
“The break actually came at a good time for me,” he said.
“It gave me time to let it heal properly, do all my rehab properly, not rush back to try and get back fit or anything, so I’m glad that I’m back fit now and like I say, ready to go.
“I’ve missed being around the dressing room and playing here on a match day, training, all sorts of bits that I’ve missed really. I’m looking forward to it.”
Smith ended up playing 12 games last season for the Gills and he was already keen on a permanent move back before the season ended, with the owners among those rooting for his return.
He said “Ever since I knew there was a chance I could come back permanently, I spoke to my agent and said I wanted to get it done nearly straight away.
“The gaffer and the other recruitment staff and even the owners Brad and Shannon (Galinson) made it clear to me from when I was still on loan that they wanted to bring me back.
“That intent that they showed early on was massive for me. They made it clear from early on that they wanted to get me back and I’m just glad it’s done now.”
Smith signed a three-year deal with the Gills after the club paid Hull an undisclosed fee.
It’s a new beginning for the defender who moved to the city of Hull with his family when he was a year old and started his football journey with his boyhood club.
He made a handful of appearances for the city side but has dropped down a couple of levels to try and now establish himself as a Football League player.
It’s something two other former Hull players have done, with Max Clark and Robbie McKenzie both agreeing new deals at Gillingham since the end of last season.
Smith said: “I feel like now I’m at an age where I need to go and play football week in, week out and establish myself somewhere and establish myself in the league really.
“I’ll miss Hull, but at the same time I’m just glad to be somewhere and call somewhere else my home now, and I’m looking forward to it.
“They’re a really good group of lads here and that was a part of my thinking coming back into this season.
“There are a few that have gone, and some really good lads that have gone as well, but I’m sure we’ll add to the group and I’m sure they’ll bring just as much.
“I think with the group of lads that we’ve got and some of the additions we might be bringing in, hopefully we can push at the right end of the table.
“It’s not always going to be straightforward and easy, it’s going to be tough at times but I think the club have shown to me that there’s an intent to push up higher in the table.”
