Ben Thompson will be a free agent this summer but Gillingham's survival bid is all that's on his mind.

The Gills midfielder is returning to Portsmouth on Saturday, where he enjoyed a half-season loan back in 2018, and a club that have often been linked with taking the midfielder back.

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Many Pompey fans were hoping to see the 26-year-old return to Fratton Park after his contract at Millwall was mutually terminated in January but he got a call from his old boss Neil Harris and jumped at the chance.

Harris’ appointment as manager of the Gills was key to Thompson signing at the end of the January transfer window, on a deal until the end of the campaign, but his plans beyond this season aren't something he's given much thought to.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out in football, anything can happen,” he said, but added: (It’s the) last two games and I have got a massive job on my hands, the squad has got a massive job on their hands and that is all I am focused on at the moment.

“I have not thought about (my future) at all, I have not heard anything on that front, it's the business end of the season, the last two games are massive, all my focus needs to be on the football pitch.”

He was asked it there was a chance of moving to Pompey in January, rather than the Gills. Was there an offer? “Not that I know of," he said. "No, in the last three and a half years since I have been there, I have not heard anything.

“A lot has changed in the club, management, players, staff, I will see a few friendly faces that I have seen before (on Saturday) but ultimately when it is game time it is business and I am there for the three points.”

Playing under Harris has been just what Thompson needed. He may have joined a team in the mire but it’s a place where he’s got regular football and the buzz back.

“He was a massive part of why I joined and why I am enjoying my football again,” said the midfielder.

“He is a great man, on and off the pitch, he knows me well, he knows how to manage me.”

Thompson knew all about the manager when he joined the Gills but was surprised at his new team-mates, in a good way, saying: “He has given the players a sense of belief that they can be a better team than what they have shown over the first half of the season.

“They are very capable players and a great squad of lads. When I came in I was quite surprised, for a team that was 10 points off it I didn’t expect the quality and togetherness in the changing room and they have been brilliant with me as well.

“I just wanted to get enjoying football again, play as many minutes and help the club push up the table. I wasn’t expecting too much from a team 10 points off safety but once I saw the quality and togetherness I did think ‘you know what, we have got a chance’.”

Gills have a good record at Pompey and Thompson was on the end of a 2-0 defeat when playing for the club on loan in October 2018. Tom Eaves’ stunning volley set the Kent side on their way that day, ending an unbeaten start to the season for the Fratton Park club.

Thompson remembered the goal, but not much more of the game.

He does, however, remember his time at the club with fondness.

“I loved my time there,” he said, having made 23 league appearances during his loan spell, which also included a 2-0 defeat at Priestfield.

“I had a great time, a lot has changed since I was last there, three and a half years ago, I enjoyed it but I am going there for three points (on Saturday) and won’t be happy unless I leave with three points.

“It is a brilliant place to play football, the boys here will be relishing that, it is an occasion for us where we need to get three points.

“We can go toe-to-toe with any team in this division, it’s about on the day, certain players turn up, conditions come into it, pressure, so many factors. We went to Sunderland and went toe-to-toe with them, same as Sheffield Wednesday, we fear no team and we are going there for three points.”