Gillingham boss Peter Taylor has made no apologies for leaving fans’ favourite Danny Kedwell out in recent first-team games.

And Taylor insists he is just as keen as supporters for Kedwell to win his place back in the team. The striker was left at home last weekend as the Gills went to Doncaster and won 2-1.

“Nobody is guaranteed a first team start,” said Taylor. “In Danny’s case, unfortunately for him, he had a leg injury and then had an injection on it.

“I didn’t include him in the JPT game (a fortnight ago) because we were restricted to five subs. Last week I didn’t think he was as focused as he should have been which, to me, is not like Danny and I am just being honest about the situation.

“I pick what I regard as the best XI and the best substitutes but people have to earn that, they have got to be good in the week and good on a matchday and so on.

“Danny didn’t lose any hunger or desire but maybe his determination to say, ‘I am going to get as fit as I can be to get in your team’. That’s got to be the attitude I’ve got to have. I didn’t think I was getting that.

“We’ve had it out, I didn’t take him (last) Saturday, we had a very good conversation on Monday, he assures me he is as committed as he has always been and we are going to move on.

“I am not going to treat people differently because they have been here longer, or whatever, I think I am pretty consistent like that.”