The Pool goalkeeper has been battling back to full fitness after suffering a broken kneecap in the 0-0 draw at West Ham in November. Gilks admits it has been a rocky road to recovery having first expected to be sidelined for two to three months. But the 28-year-old is now back in action and is eager to be involved in the Seasiders' next match at Blackburn on March 19. "It's been a little bit longer than I expected but I'm back in full training now," he told Sky Sports News. "I've been training for the last week or so and hopefully I'll be in contention for the Blackburn game. "I definitely want to play. I've sat out long enough now, it's been frustrating." Gilks earned his first call-up to the Scotland squad in August after helping Blackpool to promotion from the Championship last season before making an impressive start to his first Premier League campaign. The former Rochdale keeper did not feature in Scotland's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers and injury robbed him of a potential debut in the friendly against the Faroe Islands in November. But Gilks is determined to get back into the squad for the Carling Nations Cup games against Wales and the Republic of Ireland in May. "Getting that call-up was the biggest thing I've had in my career," he said. "I never ever expected anything like that so I was devastated to have to pull out of the squad. "But if I get back into the team and start performing again then hopefully I can get into a few more squads and see what happens from there." Gilks is out of contract in the summer and is yet to secure a deal for next season - either with Blackpool or elsewhere. But he will put contract talks on hold until the end of the season to focus on the Tangerines' bid to maintain their top-flight status. "I did get offered something in November, which I did turn down," Gilks added. "I've not heard anything since but I think at this moment in time it's all about getting back playing and keeping this club in the Premier League, which is where we need to stay."
