Young Gillingham defender Logan Dobbs hopes to push for a first-team opportunity after suffering an injury at the end of last season

Logan Dobbs is relishing the challenge ahead as he looks to take the next step in his professional career with Gillingham.

Four experienced centre-backs stand between the 19-year-old and a first-team place, but with manager Gareth Ainsworth showing he is prepared to trust young players, Dobbs believes his opportunity will come if he continues to impress.

The academy graduate made his senior debut last season, featuring in all three of Gillingham's EFL Trophy group games, and was named among the substitutes for the League 2 trip to Colchester before a knee injury halted his progress.

Now nearing full fitness after months of rehabilitation, the defender is determined to make up for lost time when pre-season gets under way this week.

Dobbs said: “I got three appearances in the EFL Trophy and I was on the bench against Colchester, which I was really happy about, and then I got hit with quite a bad injury on my knee.

“It’s been backwards and forwards, but it’s getting there now. Hopefully I’ll be 100 per cent ready for pre-season.”

Dobbs revealed the injury came in training shortly after returning from a loan spell.

“I went in for a tackle,” he explained. “I had a little fracture in my knee and bone bruising. It actually took a while to get it right but I was quite lucky, it could have been a lot worse.

“That happened around February time after I just came back from loan. I was gutted, obviously. Other lads got their chances, and they deserved them because they did well when they played.”

Despite the frustration, Dobbs treasures the experience of testing himself alongside senior professionals in the EFL Trophy.

“Playing with some of the main boys like Armani Little and all the experienced lads, in a cup that means something,