New signing Nick Freeman has been talking to KSN ahead of Gillingham’s League Two game with Northampton Town at MEMS Priestfield this Saturday afternoon.
Signed in the summer from Shrewsbury, Freeman spoke to us about his move, the settling in period and being re-united with Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth.
He told us, “We’ve had some bad luck with injuries and the like during games. The Walsall game didn’t go completely according to plan albeit we had the chances.
“We are still in very good spirits, we all know it’s a process, we know what we have in the dressing room and we know the contingencies of injuries having lads that can step up and are more than capable to step up at this level, so we’re still in good spirits!”
“It’s tough to see your teammates go down like Liam and Kadeem have done – they are two very key players for us on and off the pitch but we have to manage things as they come and be there for them especially Kadeem with it looking like such a long-term injury. But it’s also about trusting what we have in the squad as well to be able to fill in and take their chance when presented to them which every single person in the building is more than capable of doing.”
“Last weekend was a great performance away from home, a good point on the road and we could have won and taken all three as I don’t think many teams will go to Fleetwood and win this season, it will be a tough away fixture as they are a good side as they are a good performance and the point we brought home but could have got all three!”
“Even though the woodwork has been in our way so far, it is good that we are creating the chances, if we weren’t it would be worrying but we are creating chances and have just been unlucky in front of goal. But once that first goal goes in, I am sure that everything will turn, we will get a bit more confident and the goals will follow!”
“I am enjoying playing the wing back role,” Freeman went on. “I have played there quite a lot although by trade I am a midfielder – I do enjoy getting out wide and being involved as well.
“I have settled in really well and get on with the lads, they have made me feel very welcome from day one and I feel really respected by everyone as well and am really enjoying my time here so far!”
Freeman has played for the Gills boss earlier in his career and told us, “I love how positive he has the environment, even a loss is like “this needs to be better” and he demands us to be better but at the same time he won’t let heads go down, he wants everyone to be positive as he’s there for the boys as football comes around very quickly.
“I like the way he just wants to create a nice environment and a nice culture which is what he does and is doing so credit to him.”