McManus proud of scoring in 'dream debut'

Gillingham defender Conor McManus says his goal-scoring performance in their home draw with Northampton was a "dream" debut.

The 22-year-old left-back was signed from Premier League side Brentford, where he did not play a first-team match after joining them from Irish side Bray Wanderers.

And following two substitute appearances for the Gills earlier this month, McManus started against the Cobblers and scored after just seven minutes.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "If I could have dreamed of a full debut, it would have gone something like that, other than not getting the result. I'd certainly have swapped the goal for all three points.

"To get that opportunity is something that I'm incredibly grateful for, and something I want to build on and get more starts under my belt".

McManus made 55 appearances for the Brentford B team across his three seasons with the London club - but it did not compare to Saturday's league match in front of over 5,000 fans at the Priestfield stadium.

"Men's football is totally different, its more cut-throat and a bit more physical. Its taken a little bit of getting used to," he said.

"I've not played in front of 5,000 people very often, but when you're tired you can feed off the energy the crowd gives you and get a real boost".

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 player has been given his first team opportunity after Kadeem Harris ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament against Fleetwood on 22 August.

McManus has huge sympathy for his teammate and said: "I've had incredibly hard times with injury myself, and I know how hard it is, not just physically but mentally as well.

"It can be really draining doing the same thing day in day out, but Kadeem is a top professional and an unbelievable person aswell. We'll support him through the whole journey, and once he comes back he'll be a massive asset to us.

"For myself, you have to be ready no matter what, and however you get your opportunity - you just have to take it".

Gillingham have taken just two points from their opening three matches in League Two, and McManus's headed goal against Northampton was the team's first of the new campaign.

"It was massive", he added. "Its about being that icebreaker, and I feel like its been coming for so long.

"We've had chance after chance and been so unlucky, and I feel like its now going to be like a bus, you wait around for ages and then they'll all come at once.

"We've got the confidence in ourselves, that it's all going to click and when it does we're going to be a dangerous team".