John Egan will have to fight hard to get back into Gillingham’s starting XI, says manager Justin Edinburgh.

The Gills boss is delighted to have the Irishman back available for selection but his defence have been solid of late.

Adam El-Abd, who arrived from Bristol City in the wake of Egan’s injury, picked up the man-of-the-match award in Saturday’s goalless draw with Coventry.

Gillingham have kept four clean sheets in their last five games.

Edinburgh said: “Decisions are becoming tough for me as a manager but that is what I want. It is fantastic for the squad because we are starting to get people back fit now and decisions have to be made.

“John is not silly and knows the back line are doing well. He is a top player and it’s great to have him back but when those boys are performing as they are, then it is hard to break in.”

Jermaine McGlashan, Darren Oldaker and Emmanuel Osadebe all missed out last weekend.

Edinburgh said: “It is becoming a difficult time for myself and those three have been in the last 10-15 squads. Paddy and Glash have played major parts throughout the season, Glash more of late.”

Gills will be without striker Dominic Samuel this weekend. The Reading loanee is back with his parent club while they assess a knee injury he sustained last weekend.

Fellow striker Cody McDonald is back from injury and has been an unused substitute in the last two games. For him to start at the weekend seems unlikely, however.

He played an hour for the development squad in the week and Edinburgh knows the forward is still lacking match-fitness after a long time out.

Edinburgh said: “We have to understand he has been out since late December, it has been months rather than weeks and it is not as easy to pick up your fitness.

“But with someone of Cody’s quality and goalscoring pedigree, you always know you can throw him on and he may nick you something.”