FRINGE Gillingham first team players who responded with full-blooded commitment in answer to the club’s injury crisis will not be discarded once more senior players return to fitness.

Coach Wayne Jones issued the pledge as player-manager Andy Hessenthaler glimpsed light at the end of what has been a long, dark tunnel since the turn of the year.

At one stage, he found himself unable to call on 14 players during what he admitted was the biggest injury crisis he has experienced in management.

Players such as Richard Rose and Leon Johnson have moved out of the Priestfield shadows to grab their chance with a series of resilient performances.

On Wednesday at Norwich, first choice centre-back Chris Hope made his long-awaited comeback with 90 minutes for the reserves in a 3-1 win.

Hope, a long-term injury casualty, has not played since mid-February following a tackle by club skipper Paul Smith in training.

He may be in contention for Saturday's match away to play-off hopefuls West Ham but is not assured of an immediate recall.

Jones said: “Providing Chris shows no reaction to the injury, he will be considered. But the players who are in position at the minute will stay put until such times as they start playing poorly or get injured.

“I’m bound to say that Barry Ashby and Leon Johnson have been terrific together at the back. We’ve been extremely pleased with them.”

Jones insists that Gillingham are not going to Upton Park to make up the numbers. He said: “We're all confident we can beat the drop and get something from the game. We are going to be backed by 3,000 fans and they could make a world of difference."

“It’s important we don’t show them too much respect. West Ham are as equally talented as the Sunderland side we lost to on Tuesday but we’re confident we can catch them out."

Saturday’s match will be extra special for Gillingham goalkeeper Steve Banks who started his career as a West Ham trainee before leaving the club to join Gillingham for his first spell in March, 1993.

And for striker Patrick Agyemang, the match represents the opportunity of a reunion with Hammers’ former Wimbledon old boys and close friends Nigel Reo-Coker, Jobi McAnuff and Adam Nowland.