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Defender Luke O'Neill thriving with Steve Lovell at the helm at Gillingham

07:58, 29 January 2018

Defender Luke O’Neill believes he can only get better playing under Gills manager Steve Lovell.

The former Southend right-back has flourished since Lovell took charge and was an integral part of the team which came from behind to see off Fleetwood on Saturday.

“I’m enjoying my football, playing with the boys and under the gaffer,” said O’Neill.

Luke O'Neill in action against Fleetwood on Saturday Picture: Andy Jones
Luke O'Neill in action against Fleetwood on Saturday Picture: Andy Jones

“I feel like I’m doing well and I’ve got more to bring as well, I want to get better. I want that to continue.”

O’Neill joined Gills in the summer from Southend but has really only made his mark under Lovell after returning from injury.

“He’s given me belief,” said O’Neill, reflecting on the part Lovell has played in his improvement in form. “For me personally I think confidence is massive and game by game I’ve been playing better and better. The gaffer is a big part of that.

“I like to get forward. I don’t think before my injury that I got forward that much in the first half of the season. I’ve come on a little bit (since then) and that’s part of my game, to put crosses in.

“The diamond in midfield gives me a lot of space. It’s good for me personally as I can get forward.”

Gills are now just seven points outside the play-off places after breaking into the top 10 in League 1. But O’Neill is refusing to get carried away and insisted on taking each game as it comes.

“I feel like we can go into any game and win,” he said.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves and say we can get into the play-offs. It’s game by game and if we get there it’s a bonus.

“Obviously we want to be in there, but we need to take it game by game. When you get ahead of yourself, you can start dipping in performances.”

Conditions were not easy at Priestfield on Saturday but O’Neill was always confident the Gills could bounce back after falling behind.

“(The weather) made it a little harder but you’ve got to adjust to that,” he said. “It’s not the first time we’ve played in those conditions, it was probably up there with one of the worst this season.

“Even though we went 1-0 down we knew we were still in the game and could win it."

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