Striker Marcus Wyllie is enjoying life as a full-time professional at Gillingham – the former APOEL Nicosia academy player moved to Priestfield after scoring goals in non-league at Risborough Rangers and Enfield Town

Striker Marcus Wyllie is keen to repay Gillingham manager Mark Bonner after stepping up from the non-league scene.

Wyllie played in the academy at APOEL Nicosia in his native Cyprus and after moving to England at the age of 17 he proved to be a lethal finisher in non-league football at Risborough Rangers and Enfield Town. Those goals earned him plenty of admirers and eventually a move to Gillingham.

With five starts and five appearances off the bench in the Football League, Wyllie, 25, has been heavily involved in the first third of the season at Gillingham and hopes to make his mark.

He said: “I didn't know what to expect coming in from non-league but I'm really happy that the manager’s trusted me to start quite a few games already.

“I just want to make as much of an impact when I'm on the pitch to help the team win games. We've got such a good group here and everyone just loves working with each other. The environment is perfect.

“Hopefully we just keep building on that and I can help the team in any way I can. Hopefully that is by scoring as many goals as possible.

“I backed myself to be able to compete in this league and to impact games. The intensity is a lot higher than non-league, it's a lot more physical and just the difference in quality. If you make a mistake, the other team is probably going to capitalise.

“But the goal never moves, does it? I'll back myself to do the best that I can. The manager's putting faith in me to get out on the pitch. I need to repay him by putting in good performances.”

Moving into the pro game was always the aim for the striker, who moved to the Gills after netting 34 goals in 49 appearances as Enfield won promotion into National League South last season.

The Gills were willing to