Gills striker Adebayo Akinfenwa spoke to BBC Radio Kent ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow afternoon, Akinfenwa hoping for more same game time over the rest of the season:
"It has been a bit frustrating for me. Anybody that knows me knows I want to be playing, This season has been a new feeling. I haven't been used to being on the bench this much. I want to play every minute, even though sometimes my body won't allow me. For me it is about consistency and trying to get some minutes on the pitch.
“Sometimes it is tough and frustrating to sit on the bench. I am getting some minutes and that is coinciding with some good performances and goals. The more minutes I play, my body will get used to it and the better I will be able to play. But as long as the team are getting the results and I am getting some minutes I am happy.
"I am not a small guy - I will be the first to say it. Everyone has got a perception of what a footballer is and, because I am a certain size, that I can only play one way - as a battering ram. More than anything I prefer the ball on the floor. I think I play my best football on the floor. There is a delicacy to this big giant. It is society and the world. There is a perception. We all do it and have perceptions of individuals. Anyone who has watched me over my career knows there is more than just a battering ram."
In team news for the Gills tomorrow they have three definite absentees, while they also have doubts over another trio of players. Firstly, right-back Matt Fish is out long-term having ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament on the opening day of the season, while striker Danny Kedwell is sidelined having undergone a hernia operation last month. Another right-back in Elliott Hewitt also missing out as he sees out a one-match ban for a deliberate handball red card in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Stevenage.
Elsewhere in the Gillingham squad, central midfielder Amine Linganzi should be available again after recovering from a short bout of tendonitis, while winger Chris Whelpdale is lacking match fitness following an ankle problem and looks set for a place on the substitutes bench. Finally come central midfielder Charlie Lee, who is back in contention after a knee injury, and veteran captain and centre-half Adam Barrett who is likely to come back into the starting eleven after being rested down to the bench for the Stevenage match.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Mark Heywood from Northwich in Cheshire and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Hodskinson from Preston and Kevin Mattocks from Chorley. Meanwhile the fourth official is Simon Clayton from Newton Aycliffe.