BAILY Cargill gave the thumbs up to the Checkatrade Trophy after putting an eight-month injury nightmare behind him for loan club Gillingham.

The Cherries defender had been out of action since March after damaging his ankle while on loan at League One outfit Coventry City.

And although he agreed to a temporary switch to the Gills at the end of the transfer window in August, he had to wait until Tuesday to make his debut following another injury setback.

The 21-year-old did not mind one jot that his comeback came against the backdrop of crushing apathy, with only a few hundred spectators rattling around inside the near-27,000 capacity Hawthorns to watch Gillingham’s 2-0 win.

Cargill told the Daily Echo: “It was nice to be playing again. I felt a bit rusty and I wouldn’t say it was my best performance.

“But it was getting the minutes that mattered so I was happy with that.

“It was a little odd (playing in front of such a small crowd), but it was perfect for me to be able to come back into a game where there was no pressure to do well.

“There were hardly any fans there and the pitch was quite nice. It was almost like an under-21 game I play for Bournemouth.”

Cargill revealed he sustained a hernia problem just weeks after linking up with the Gills. He had an operation in Germany before returning to Cherries to complete his recovery.

The Winchester-born player’s debut was worth the wait for the Kent club, given it coincided with Gillingham’s first victory in 10 outings – and a first clean sheet for the team in 29 attempts.

“I felt fit and strong,” said Cargill. “When I say it wasn’t my best performance, I mean my passing.

“Normally my passing is the strongest part of my game. That wasn’t at its best but I wouldn’t say it was a bad performance. I think I was solid and we kept a clean sheet. It wasn’t West Brom’s strongest team, so it was a good game for me to come into.”

Cargill confessed to feeling “achy and tired” the morning after his 61-minute appearance, but he is desperate to feature when Gillingham host Northampton in League One on Saturday.

Longer term, the centre-half has his sights trained on returning to Vitality Stadium and making his mark with his parent club.

“I’m really looking forward to getting some games now,” he added. “I’ve been pretty unfortunate with my injuries. Even at Coventry, I started quite well and then did my ankle.

“Welling (a loan spell in the 2013-14 season) was my last proper spell when I had games week in, week out, so hopefully now I can stay fit and carry on for the rest of the season like that.

“I want to play at the highest level I can. I’ve come here to gain experience and hopefully go back to Bournemouth a better player, then see what happens with the gaffer.”