Gillingham midfielder Armani Little chasing Football League promotion after rejecting a deal at AFC Wimbledon this summer

Gillingham midfielder Armani Little is getting up to speed after a frustrating summer.

Little took part in the early weeks of pre-season and played in the first match of the summer against Millwall before suffering a set-back. He returned to action for the opening game of the season, a 4-1 win over Carlisle.

It’s meant playing catch-up but things are progressing nicely.

He said: “It was frustrating because I was feeling fit in the first two or three weeks and played the first 45 minutes against Millwall.

“When you get an injury that puts you behind, you are playing a lot of catch-up, but I am someone who works hard and gets my head down.

“I needed to focus on getting back for the first game of the season and luckily I did that.

“The first two weeks of pre-season was mostly running, so I had that in the bank already. I didn’t miss too much of the running, it was just the games I missed.

“I am coming back into it now, starting to feel fitter and fitter every time.

“That first game I was a bit rusty but I am getting there.”

It’s likely he’ll feature heavily this season under manager Mark Bonner after being made vice captain.

The midfielder says making himself heard on the pitch is something he’s grown up to do.

He said: “I have added that to my game as I’ve got older.

“I have tried to work on it and improve all the time and be that focal point in the middle of the pitch.

“The gaffer wants everyone to be a captain in their own way, whether that’s talking or leading by example, and I think we should all be like that. I think this team needs to speak more, all of us.”

Little left Wimbledon in the summer to join a club that he feels he has a chance of challenging for success in the league.

With a promotion under his belt at