ROBERT TAYLOR today won glowing praise from Gillingham coach Wayne Jones which could pave the way to him starting Saturday's home game against Sheffield Wednesday. On-loan Taylor, who has yet to start a match during a three-month spell away from Wolves, impressed for the reserves in yesterday's 3-0 defeat by Reading at Priestfield.

With top scorer Marlon King and Iffy Onuora suspended for the following Saturday's match at Barnsley, player-manager Andy Hessenthaler may gamble by starting the injury-prone striker against the Owls in a bid to step up his match fitness. Taylor, who is expected to return to Molineux at the end of his loan early next month, has not pulled up any trees since his return to the club but Jones said: "He was part of a team containing a lot of youngsters and he worked as hard as anybody. We were very pleased with his contribution he showed guts and determination which is what it's all about."

Hessenthaler, Mark Patterson, Kevin James and Ty Gooden all played yesterday against a Reading side that included ex-Gill Neil Smith and former goalkeeper Anthony Malessa.

Anthony Rougier (2) and Nathan Tyson scored for Reading.