Emmanuel Osadebe hopes his performances are helping to repay some of the faith shown in him by his boss.

The 19-year-old was plucked from a college just over a year ago but has become a key player for the Gills under Justin Edinburgh.

He has started all three league games so far and picked up the sponsor’s man-of-the-match award on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw against Swindon Town.

Osadebe said: “The manager has put a lot of trust and faith in me and it is only right that I give that back in return. Every time he plays me I give everything I can.

“I will keep giving him my all. I worked hard over the summer and I think he knows that.”

That work in the summer led Edinburgh to declare Osadebe as one of the fittest player he has seen but that has come through hard work.

He said: “I am naturally fit but I don’t sleep on it, I just keep trying to get fitter and stronger. I have been in the gym to work on some power and extra body stuff.

“I keep working on it and it gets better and better. I don’t feel like I get tired, I just keep running and running and giving everything I can. It is a mental thing.

“Every game we have played has been tough, the first game in the sun (at Southend) was tough and when we went back for the second game, we had to work harder.

“But the whole team is fit. The gaffer over pre-season gave us some hard drills and everyone has got fit. We have that feeling that we can work harder and be stronger than any team. I will do everything I can to win.”