Rowan Vine dropped out of the Premier League to join Gillingham on Thursday and insisted it was a move he could not refuse.

The 29-year-old, who arrived on loan for the rest of the season, is desperate to play football again after being shunned by parent club QPR.

He made his first competitive appearance since September on Saturday as a second-half substitute in Gills’ 2-2 draw at Bradford.

The striker, who once cost Birmingham £2.5million and was later a £1m acquisition by QPR, is keen to reignite his career after several years of stagnation.

Vine said: "I am out of contract at QPR (in the summer) so I will be moving on somewhere. I thought it was necessary to get out and get some football at some level before my contract ran out to let people know I am still about.

"I need to be playing football to get match fit and sharp. I am fit and I am willing, so I will just give as much as I can.

Vine admits he had all but given up on hope of a loan anywhere else before Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler got in touch.

He said: "Any footballer will tell you when you aren’t playing it’s the hardest thing in the world. What makes it twice as hard is when you are fit and able.

"I have been fit and able but frustrated by what happened at QPR. Nobody did me any favours there, manager-wise, so it’s been tough."