Gillingham striker Tom Eaves on returning to the club and his desire to achieve something at Priestfield this season

Tom Eaves may be in the latter stages of his career but the Gillingham striker insists he still has the fire in his belly to achieve something at Priestfield.

The 34-year-old returned to the Gills seven years after leaving following a successful two-season spell in which he scored 40 goals.

He has netted twice in six appearances since his return and is determined to help Gareth Ainsworth's side make progress this season.

He said: “I'm very much an all or nothing person, which is quite extreme in personality, which is good and absolutely dreadful in ways. I'm either all in or nothing, and I'm all in right now, I'm completely all in and just fired up and ready to kick on.

"I think we've got a group here that can achieve something. I genuinely, genuinely believe that under Gareth [Ainsworth].

“I feel great in my body. My body's not letting me down anytime soon.”

Eaves acknowledges that his age and experience make him a player younger team-mates can look up to and learn from.

He is happy to take on that role on and off the pitch but remains determined to play regularly and make his own contribution.

He said: “I think that's something I definitely have to do, and any knowledge I can pass on to any of the other players and strikers, I'll definitely do that because I probably wish I had had that more growing up, which I didn't really have too much. It was very much dog eat dog, but don't get me wrong; I'm competitive as well.

“I want to play, I want to start every game as well. I'm still there, I'm still at that stage; I don't feel like I want to slow down at any point.

“I'm here to play and score and put pressure, give the manager a headache. I don't just want to be a bit-part player and come on [for the] last 15 minutes, even