Whitstable Town manager Nicky Southall believes Ashley Miller has lost his ‘mojo’.

He’s given the former Gillingham striker the chance to get it back after he signed with the Oystermen on Wednesday.

Miller, 19, had his contract with the Gills cancelled by mutual agreement earlier this month but Southall, who worked with him at Gillingham, is keen to give the talented youngster a helping hand back into the professional ranks.

And he can do that in the final month of the Ryman League season.

Southall has given Miller a licence to thrill while helping Town preserve their league status.

He said: “We are delighted to have him here and I look forward to seeing him hit the ground running.

“I’ve been tracking him for three weeks now but he spent a week at Crystal Palace, so I had to wait to see what happened there.

“That didn’t work out so I told him to come down here and let his feet do the talking.

“I want him to get that smile back on his face and told him to get out there and enjoy himself.

“If he can do that and perform consistently, I am sure the scouts will take notice. He’s had a taste of life as a professional and he’s certainly got the talent to play at that level again.

“Hopefully, this is great chance for him to showcase what he can do and what I know he can.”

Miller made his professional debut as substitute for the Gills against Wycombe Wanderers when he was only 16 in November 2010.

He made his first start against Barnet in March 2012 and scored his first senior goal in Gillingham’s 4-3 defeat to Crewe Alexandra three days later.

Meanwhile, Southall says securing their Ryman League status is ‘first and foremost’ in the minds of his Whitstable squad as they prepare for an end to their ‘March Madness.’

Town’s hectic schedule continues with a trip to play-off chasing Merstham tonight (Thursday, 7.45pm) while the visit of Burgess Hill on Saturday will conclude a month which has seen them play 11 games in 28 days.

The Oystermen are just three places but 10 points clear of the Division 1 South relegation zone after claiming back-to-back draws against Corinthian Casuals and Hastings United on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.

Town will also welcome Eastbourne Town to The Belmont on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Scott Heard might be back in the squad at Merstham despite impressing during a week training with League 2 Chesterfield.

Southall said: “We’ve had good reports. I understand he began the week training with the development squad but was called-up to train with the first team.”