WOLVES manager Dave Jones today left the ball firmly in Gillingham's court over the future of on-loan Robert Taylor. The two clubs meet in the AXA sponsored FA Cup, third round on January 5 and Jones is waiting to hear if Gills want to keep the striker and whether they want permission to play him in the tie.

Taylor, whose three-month loan ends in the first week in January, has yet to start a match since his arrival from Molineux in October. He made a brief appearance in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Nottingham as an 88th minute substitute for Marlon King. It was his first game since recovering from another hamstring problem which has plagued him both with Wolves and Gillingham.

"Since Robert Taylor left here I've not heard a word from Gillingham," said Jones. "So far as we are concerned the ball is in their court. His loan is up in the first week of January which Gillingham know. As for him playing against us in the FA Cup, I'm waiting to hear from Gillingham."

Taylor, who signed a four-year contract when he joined Wolves in a £1 million plus deal from Manchester City last season, is well down the pecking order of strikers at Molineux. In front of him are Cedric Roussel, Adam Proudlock, Nathan Blake and on-loan Dean Sturridge so the club may grant permission for him to play against them.