Crofts needs to fight for place

Mark Stimson made his change of captain earlier this season

Former Gillingham captain Andrew Crofts faces a battle to get back into the side - only a couple of weeks after losing the skipper's armband.

Crofts, who has fallen out of favour in recent weeks at Priestfield, missed out on last week's 5-0 win over Morecambe because he was with the Welsh squad.

And Gills boss Mark Stimson has not heard from the midfielder since.

"I haven't seen Andrew since that meeting," Stimson told BBC Radio Kent. "But he's a good pro."

The Gills boss added: "He loves the game, and I expect

What he's got to do to get into the international side is play week in week out, and when he plays, play like an international.

Gills boss Mark Stimson

him when he gets back in the building to perform and get back in the squad."

However, the Gills boss says Crofts can consider himself lucky if he even makes the bench for this Saturday's game with Bradford.

Crofts has missed a number of games for the Gills because of international duty for Wales. But, despite training with the Welsh squad he has failed to get onto the pitch, or the bench, this season (he has not actually played for his country since February), which is frustrating to Stimson.

"We have to pay his wages," said Stimson, "and he hasn't been used by us or them.

"What he's got to do to get into the international side is play week in week out and, when he plays, play like an international."