Jack Payne returned from a three-game injury-enforced absence with a vital goal on Tuesday night.

Payne (pictured) was back in the side after being put on a week of intensive training following a groin injury which he picked up in the middle of September.

And Gills boss Martin Allen was delighted to see the 20-year-old’s hard work pay off.

"His attitude has been fantastic for the last week and he has been working extremely hard," said Allen.

"He has welcomed it and embraced it and, to be honest, he was going to have three or four more days of training.

"But I thought with the way he worked, he deserved to play."

It was Payne’s sixth career goal and, like most of the others, it came from the edge of the box.

"It was very similar to the goal at Barnet," said Allen. "And I am sure with more work on him, there is so much more to come."