Gillingham striker Jacob Wakeling ready for League 2 opener against Carlisle United after joining from Peterborough United

Gillingham newcomer Jacob Wakeling was shortlisted for EFL's League 2 player-of-the-season last time he played the level and believes he’s even better now.

Wakeling scored seven goals and assisted another five in his 39 appearances for Swindon Town during the 2022/23 season, playing alongside Remeao Hutton and Jonny Williams - who he has been reunited with at Gillingham.

His impressive season at Swindon - his only full one to date - was followed by a move to Peterborough United, moving there for a fee in September last year.

Wakeling, who signed a three-year deal at Peterborough, made seven appearances off the bench but had limited chance to shine as he was cup-tied in the EFL Trophy and League Cup before injury led to him missing the second half of the season.

He’s returned from having two bad ankle injuries, putting them behind him with a positive pre-season at Peterborough. He scored twice against both Spalding and Stamford and netted for the Gills at Woking on Saturday.

The striker is determined to make up for lost time at the Gills.

He said: “The move wasn’t just a case of Peterborough saying ‘we don’t want you’. I wanted this as well. I wanted to get out and get consistent games and I feel like this is the perfect fit for me to do that.

“I think with how ambitious the club is going to be this season, they want to get promoted, I want to get promoted, the manager as well, chatting to him and just the whole club in general.

“I feel like I have improved since the (season at Swindon). Even though I didn’t play much last year at Peterborough, I feel like I am more of an improved player now, on the mental side and the physical side and I feel this season I am going to show how much I have improved.

“I came back from