Peter Taylor believes that Craig Fagan could be the man to temporarily replace Danny Kedwell.

Gillingham’s leading scorer will be sidelined for a month after undergoing a hernia operation last Thursday.

Boss Taylor had initially planned to bring in a new signing, in Kedwell’s absence but he is willing to let Fagan prove his worth first.

He said: “I am not going mad about bringing in a replacement. On Saturday the supporters saw Craig play as a centre-forward. That’s what he does and that’s what he is used to.

“He has been playing wide right for us. I wouldn’t mind seeing him (up top) and I wouldn’t particularly want to take that opportunity away from him.

“As long as Bayo (Akinfenwa) stays fit, it might be a case of playing half an hour and changing people around. I think Craig would like to be judged as a centre-forward.”

Kedwell finally got his operation done, having twice previously cancelled it.

Taylor said: “He felt it last week (at Colchester) and there was no point in him carrying on.

“We said, ‘let’s get it done’. Let’s get it right and if he is out for a month, then he will be right and firing in the final two or three months of the season.”