By Luke Cawdell

Gills boss Mark Stimson has stated that Stuart Lewis and Chris Palmer are battling to fill in for injured skipper Barry Fuller.

Lewis has been the Gills saviour before when called upon to play at right-back and insists he’s ready for action once more.

The midfielder stepped in for Fuller when he was hospitalised with pneumonia last season and after a frustrating time on the sidelines recently he’s itching to get a chance to impress again.

Lewis, pictured top right, came on as a second half substitute in the defeat at Carlisle last Saturday and that was his first appearance for the Gills since they were beaten in the FA Cup at Accrington.

He said: "As a professional I want to be playing football. I want to be out there putting my body on the line and doing well.

"If called upon I would be there giving 100 per cent, and I’m sure Chris Palmer would be the same. It was good to be back on Saturday but it was just unfortunate for Barry."

Palmer, pictured bottom right, who started in the 2-0 defeat at Carlisle last weekend, is also confident that he can fill for Fuller.

He is well aware that Lewis did a great job for the Gills last season and knows he has a battle to get his hands on the right-back shirt.

He said: "There’s no doubt that I am capable of filling that position but at the same time I know that Stuart Lewis did a good job there last season and he is more than capable."

Palmer had an extended role in the left-back slot earlier this season but has yet to hold down a regular place in the side and that, he admits, is hard.

"It’s a little frustrating being in and out of the team and not playing regularly," he said.

"I knew when I first came here that because of last season’s success it would be difficult to get a place in the team straight away."

"It’s not nice to be in a relegation battle. We just need to pick up as many points as we can before the end of the season."