Jayden Clarke’s up to speed with full-time football and now hopes to make his mark in the Gillingham first team.

Clarke was a surprise January recruit at Gillingham, joining from non-league Dulwich Hamlet, a standout player for a side who ended up getting relegated from National South once he departed.

It was a big jump for the forward who was kept around the Gillingham first team last season, rather than being sent out on loan. The club are hoping that experience will pay dividends this season.

It’s now down to the 22-year-old to perform.

“I love it here, it’s been good so far,” he said. “I came from part-time football, training Tuesdays and Thursdays, to training every day here and in gym every day, I feel like it’s what I needed and I am enjoying it.

“I played quite a lot of football away from when I was doing part-time. I was still playing football more or less every day so it wasn’t a massive transition, but players here are a lot sharper, a lot fitter, but I am up to speed now.

“I have been working for this more or less my whole life, it is good to finally be here and I need to keep going and push on again.”

Clarke spent time playing in the Tottenham academy before moving into non-league so has had a decent pedigree and he’s confident he can make it now he’s got the chance in the Football League.

He said: “You have to believe in yourself. It might not be straight away at the start of the season but I just have to be patient and be ready to take that chance.”

Clarke got on the scoresheet at Dartford on Saturday, scoring the fifth goal in a 5-0 win, finishing off a flowing attacking move.

“Stats talk don’t they?” he said. “I need to score as many as I can, assist as many as I can, and help the team.

“The ball got pulled back to Jonny (Williams) and luckily for me he missed it. It went into my path and I was in a good position just to tap it in.

“Once you get that first goal it does give you a bit of confidence and hopefully more will come.

“I’m probably the fittest I have been, since playing football, I am feeling good, and I’m ready to go. Como was brilliant, different for me as I’ve never been away in pre-season with a team. For the whole team it was good and the fans loved it as well, it was a good experience.

“Our first (league) game is not far away now. We’re buzzing and ready to go.”