Gillingham defender Cheye Alexander is hoping a run in the team helps bring out his best qualities.

The right-back started only his third league game last Saturday and helped the Gills to a clean sheet against Sutton United. He kept his place for the EFL Trophy midweek fixture and supplied a super cross for Lewis Walker to convert.

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He said: “I have not really had a run of games and hopefully I will now get that chance, get full momentum, prove what I can do and keep improving every game.

“I want to play every game, I haven’t been in the team (from the start) but I knew, as soon as I got the opportunity, I had to take it and thankfully I took it on Saturday. I proved again on Tuesday, what I can bring to the team and there is plenty more I can bring.

“I wouldn't say (I have shown my best yet), there is plenty more to come, with a run of games you will see what I'm really about, but I’ve had a good performance and have to continue doing that and helping the team to get the wins.”

Alexander has had more appearances off the bench in the league than starts so far.

“I do get frustrated, very,” he admitted. “I'm an emotional guy, I want to play every game, I know that is not necessarily going to happen but I put myself in that position to play every game. If I'm not playing, I still have to be part of the team and support the players that are, whether I'm playing or not, we need to win.”

Alexander might have feared for his chance to play when manager Neil Harris brought in Haji Mnoga and Robbie McKenzie on transfer deadline day, two players who can comfortably play right-back.

But he said: “I have been in football a long time, competition is a good thing, we need that within the squad, it is only going to make each of us better. There are a few who can play in different positions, there is a good variety. The feeling was a good one, we strengthened the side and it benefited the club.”

Alexander is also comfortable playing on the opposite flank, as a left-back, where he played many times for AFC Wimbledon last season.

Now, he’s hoping he can help the Gills move on after a tough start to the season.

“The group is feeling very good,” he said. “The vibe and the emotions throughout the training ground is amazing, a complete difference from a couple of weeks back but that is what a win or two does, the confidence is high and we go into Saturday in a good place.

“The games we have lost, I thought we had done well, a bit unlucky, but it takes time for a team to gel and I think now you are starting to see what works for us and what doesn’t and the last two games we have shown how strong we are defensively and we are also getting the goals we needed.

“It is a long season and you look at where you are at 10 games in and we have kind of done that, it is time for us to push on and forget about the last 9-10 games and look forward to the future.”