Alistair John is confident he can clinch a deal with Gillingham but admits he’s just grateful to be alive.

The 20-year-old was stabbed outside his London home a year ago and was left fighting for his life.

"If I didn’t go into hospital when I did I could have died," he said.

John picked up the hospital super-bug c-diff while receiving treatment but he was determined to get playing again.

The young winger had only signed for Mark Stimson’s Stevenage side, after being released by Charlton, a month before the stabbing.

"I pushed it as I really wanted to get back and four months later I was," he said. "When I was in hospital I could barely walk but I got back in December and started running."

John returned playing first-team football at the end of last season but Stevenage released him and his agent quickly contacted Stimson.

"I’m grateful that he (Stimson) has given me another chance," said John. "After what happened not many would and I need to try and prove to him that I can still do it.

"It’s a very short career and unfortunately that happened to me but I’m just grateful to be alive and still trying to make a living in the game."