Gillingham missed out on the League Two play-offs last season

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler has said a strong start will be the key to a better season than last year.

The Gills start the season against Cheltenham on Saturday, the same opponents who held them to a draw in the first game of last season.

Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "Last season, it was a slow start and that cost us. Let's get off to a good start and be consistent over 46 games.

"We are looking good come the weekend," he said.

This is Hessenthaler's second season since returning to the Gills. Seven of his eight summer signings are expected to be in the squad. Only striker Adam Birchall, with a serious knee injury, is missing.

The club also have a new captain in former Millwall defender Andy Frampton and two players, striker Danny Kedwell and defender Matt Fish, who if selected will be making their league debuts having joined from AFC Wimbledon and Dover Athletic respectively.

"We're looking as fit as ever. We've got an average age of 23 and are looking good come the weekend," said Hessenthaler.

"We need to get off to a winning start. We didn't last year. We know what we've got to do."

But Hessenthaler has refused to be drawn on whether Gillingham should be regarded as promotion candidates.

"We committed ourselves last year. We started making predictions and we got shot down in flames so we're not going to spout off about what we're going to do," he said.

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