Stuart Nelson is back and wants the Gills No.1 shirt again.

After a heroic return from injury in Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy penalty shoot-out win at Colchester, he now wants his League 1 place back.

Nelson was injured on the opening day of the season at MK Dons and boss Peter Taylor must decide whether to stick with on-loan Stephen Bywater or play Nelson when Gillingham host Scunthorpe tomorrow (Saturday).

Nelson, who scored the winning penalty at Colchester, said: "I can only give the best I can give. Then it is down to the manager.

"I am comfortable with my performances and comfortable with what I do on the training ground.

"I wanted to play against Notts County but the manager made the decision that he was sticking with the squad he had."

The 33-year-old added: "I am desperate to play football, especially for this club. It has been a nightmare start for me after the way the last two years had gone.

"I felt brilliant going into the season and ready for the game at MK Dons. I felt I started well but the wheels came off.

"It has been a tough couple of months and with it being a thumb injury, I have just been doing a lot of running, which is tough to get your head around every day."