Winger Harry Cornick hopes to tread the same path as Baily Cargill did at Gillingham.

Cornick’s Bournemouth team-mate Cargill played 10 games for Gillingham before returning to the south coast and making his Premier League debut against Manchester United.

“Seeing what Baily did is massive,” said the 21-year-old. “I came to watch him a few times here and I thought he did well. It shows what a loan move can do for you.

“The gaffer at Bournemouth watches on and sees how we progress. Hopefully, it can improve me and help Gillingham. It is beneficial for both of us.

“The manager there works well with the young lads and a few of them train with the first team regularly. A few get chances in cup games and Baily playing in the Premier League shows that he does have faith in us.

“He is an example for all of us and someone we can look up to. If we can follow in his footsteps then we will be going in the right direction.”

Cornick is eager to repay the faith shown in him by the Gillingham management.

Head coach Ady Pennock agreed a deal with Cornick while he was still recovering from an operation to correct a groin injury.

That was at the end of January and he finally made his Gills debut on Saturday, in the 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough. He’s now keen to make up for lost time.

He said: “It has been a long time coming. There has been lots of hard work off the pitch to get to where I am now. I was pleased to finally get out there and start showing what I can do and try and repay Gillingham for the faith that they showed in me.”

Cornick picked up an injury while at Leyton Orient earlier this season, leaving him sidelined for several months.

He said: “I was thankful for Gillingham to have shown faith in me and sign me, even though I was injured. They knew I wouldn’t be back for a month or so.

“This injury is all sorted now and I haven’t felt a thing since then. I feel fresh, strong and quick again.”

Cornick is a big fan of the loan system, learning about the men’s game earlier in his career with a stint at Welling, who were managed at the time by Gillingham coach Jamie Day.

He also spent time at Aldershot and Havant before helping Yeovil escape relegation in League 2 last season. Before his injury this season, he played 11 games for Orient.

Cornick said: “I think you improve 10 times more going out on loan than you do staying in the under-21 teams and training.

“The football is completely different to what a loan move is, you are not going to get thrown about, you go down to the pitch and have a nice kick about, the result doesn’t matter.

“Coming on loan does help and I think young lads should always go out on loan, no matter what the level, Conference South or League 1.”