Ben Williamson’s return to Gillingham is like a new signing says Gills boss Justin Edinburgh.

Striker Williamson is back with the Gills after a successful loan spell with League 2 Cambridge United.

He scored three times for the club during his eight appearances.

Edinburgh will now be hoping the 27-year-old can recapture the form that led to him being recruited by the Gills from Port Vale in the summer.

The Gills boss said: “He has done it at this level before, there is no doubt about that, so I think he is like a new signing again.

“You can never have enough strikers, not at any level, and he comes back full of confidence with the bit between his teeth to get back into the team and start scoring goals.

“He sparked Cambridge to get great results and he has won a lot of man-of-the-match awards, scored goals, got assists and more importantly he has gone and played so his game minutes are up, his fitness is up and his sharpness is up.

“I want him to succeed here. He is one of my signings and I brought him here because I thought he would be a real asset to us.”

Williamson made 14 appearances for the Gills before moving to Cambridge but has yet to get on the scoresheet for the League 1 side.

Edinburgh said: “He has gone away and he has been a pivotal part of Cambridge’s good form since Shaun Derry has been there. He played a huge part in that and they were very keen for him to stay but right now you can never have enough strikers.

“Ben will come back into the fold and go straight back in for Wigan and I am delighted for him. He has gone away and rediscovered his confidence and form and hopefully he can play another big part at this club.”