By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is ready to let Chris Palmer and Stuart Lewis battle it out for the right to replace injured defender Barry Fuller.

The Gills captain, who broke his arm last Tuesday against Leyton Orient, learned on Friday that he will be out for four to six weeks.

Stimson is reluctant to enter the loan market to fill the void left by the right-back, and that means Palmer or Lewis will be called upon to fill in.

Stimson also has youngster Jack Payne who can play in that position and he hopes to have enough quality in his squad to cope.

He said: "A loan is difficult because there aren’t many out there who are experienced enough and it would have to be a young one. I think Stuart Lewis and Chris Palmer amongst themselves will have to be good enough to do it.

"Chris did his best on Saturday. It was always going to be difficult because he hasn’t played for a while and there was a bit of rustiness in his legs."

Palmer conceded a second-half penalty in Saturday's game at Carlisle and was replaced by Lewis (pictured), who is a natural midfielder, but he filled in during Fuller’s absence last season.

Lewis was back in Gills’ 18-man squad just days after being made available for loan. Fuller’s injury meant that Stimson pulled the plug on any possible short-term move away from Priestfield for Lewis.