NEALE COOPER has criticised Gillingham's Trinidad and Tobago international defender Brent Sancho for playing for his country despite not appearing for his club for the last five weeks.

Sancho turned out for Trinidad in the World Cup play-off against Bahrain and the Gills boss is angry with the decision, especially given the Priestfield club's injury crisis and current poor form.

Cooper said: "I wasn't happy at all about it. To not play for five weeks, not even train with the first team, and then make that decision to play for Trinidad is very disappointing.

"At this moment in time it's all hands on deck and I felt there's no way that Brent Sancho could have gone to play for Trinidad. Sometimes that shows the character of certain people and it's not the character we need at this time."

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