Huddersfield loan player Connor Mahoney enjoying his football again under Neil Harris at Gillingham

Connor Mahoney admitted he’s had to make sacrifices in his personal life to find his love for football again.

Mahoney has just become a dad for the second time and only returned to training on Friday after a week off, a day before Gillingham’s big game with Mansfield.

More: Performance sets the standard for Gills

With his family up north, the on-loan Huddersfield player has plenty going on, but you wouldn’t know it with the quality performances he’s delivering for the Gills.

Mahoney played a key role in all of Gillingham’s last seven goals, whether it’s been from corner kicks, winning penalties, crossing or by scoring himself, as he did last time out at Priestfield against Morecambe, with a superb solo effort.

He was alert enough to win possession in the Mansfield half on Saturday and deliver a cross for Macauley Bonne to finish. Not bad considering the week he’s had.

“I was buzzing,” he said, having spent most of the week with his expectant partner and a 20-month-old. “(I’m a) new dad, that’s two now and it’s been a bit of a tough week.

“I came back down while they were still in hospital and they came out on Friday, it was a special week for me.”

Mahoney moved to the Gills from Huddersfield this summer to get back playing again.

He made just nine appearances in the Championship last season for the Yorkshire side, all from the bench, and only started one league game for Millwall the season before.

Signing for the Gills has given him the buzz back.

He said: “People might not realise but I have not played consecutive matches now since 2018 at Birmingham.

“I knew it would take some games for me to get up to match speed but I surprised myself on the fitness side, I think I have done well.

“I’ve played Saturdays and