Captain Doug Loft could make his long-awaited Gills return against high-flying Peterborough this week.

Gillingham take on second-placed Posh in League 1 at Priestfield on Tuesday night.

Loft has been out of action since the home game against Yeovil a month ago. An Achilles injury has kept the 27-year-old skipper out but he was close to returning at Oldham on Saturday.

Boss Peter Taylor wants to make sure he is 100% ready.

“I didn’t think it was worth that risk,” said the Gills boss, who also left out leading scorer Danny Kedwell. “Lofty has got a very, very good chance for Tuesday. We didn’t want to start him (Saturday) as we didn’t think that was right.”

Taylor felt Gillingham’s passing was off the mark at Oldham and Loft’s return would be well timed. Fellow midfielder Josh Pritchard could also come in for his first league start.

“Pritchard showed what a good passer he is when he came on (Saturday),” said Taylor. “There are some plusses from what was a frustrating afternoon.

“He is definitely capable of being the answer but the problem is he isn’t 90-minute fit. He is definitely the answer on the ball as people have seen. (Loft) is another one that will help us.”

Read the full story in Monday's Medway Messenger