JEFFERSON LOUIS’ loan signing from Oxford has left Gravesend & Northfleet manager Andy Ford on the horns of a selection dilemma.

Striker Roy Essandoh found himself on the bench for the start of last weekend's 2-1 home win over Stevenage - and could stay there for this Saturday's visit of Hereford.

Ford played Louis ahead of Essandoh against Stevenage after agonising over selection before reaching a decision two hours before kick-off. Essandoh replaced Louis after 75 minutes and immediately made his height and strength tell.

Louis will be available for the matches against Hereford, Barnet and Dagenham before his loan deal expires.

Ford admitted: “I made the decision to leave Roy out at 1pm on Saturday and he took it on the chin, though naturally he was aggrieved not to be in the side.

“But it was extremely difficult and I had been toying with the decision all week. Jefferson Louis has made a big difference to us. I regard this as a problem all managers welcome, though it’s inevitable that you will have players on the bench who are not happy.

Defender Matt Rouse and midfielder Jimmy Jackson are available after injury. This leaves centre-back Graham Porter, who has a calf strain, as the club’s only senior injured player.