GILLINGHAM supporters may be kept waiting before they see Patrick Agyemang and Mama Sidibe play up front together in what many believe will be a dream strike force.

Although Mali beat Guinea 2-1 to reach Wednesday’s semi-finals of the African Nations Cup, thereby delaying Sidibe’s return, the big striker is by no means assured of his place when Gillingham return to League action on February 21 to face Reading at Priestfield.

Because Sidibe has spent most of his time during the competition on the substitutes’ bench, the feeling persists within Priestfield that so much inactivity will affect his match-fitness.

Coach Wayne Jones said: “We know he’s not happy because he’s not been playing. That is bound to impact on his match fitness and Mamady is the type of player who needs to be playing regularly.

“We shall assess his fitness on his return but we wouldn’t be doing him any favours by putting him straight back into the side.

“It is frustrating for us because we’ve got one of our best strikers involved in the African Nations Cup and he hasn’t come off the bench yet.”