Justin Edinburgh has praised Brighton counterpart Chris Hughton for allowing Andrew Crofts to join the Gills.

Hughton’s team are sitting second in the Championship and Crofts has been a regular member of his squad.

But after struggling to win a regular start, Crofts asked Hughton to allow him to go on loan in a bid to try and secure a place in Wales’ Euro 2016 team.

Hughton, reluctantly, said yes.

Edinburgh said: “It speaks volumes of Chris Hughton as a manager and also as a man.

“He understands what is at the end of this season for Crofty, an opportunity to go to the Euros.

“They can be once in a lifetime opportunities and Chris has played in a few himself, for the Republic of Ireland. He understands the magnitude of what that would be for Crofty.

“There was no way Chris would have pushed (the loan move) himself, he didn’t want it to happen.

“Crofty pushed it and the manager understood what it meant, to come here to his home club, where it all started.

“It was a decision that we were absolutely delighted with. It’s been great to get him onboard.”

Crofts came off the bench for Wales in their friendly match against Northern Ireland but was released from the squad to join the Gills at Bury.

It was Crofts 28th Welsh cap and first appearance for them since September 2013.

Fellow Gills loanee and Wales international George Williams started the Northern Ireland match, playing just over an hour in the 1-1 draw last Thursday but was an unused substitute in their game against Ukraine.

Both will be back available when the Gills take on Coventry this Saturday.

For Crofts, it will be his first match back in a Gills shirt at Priestfield since September 2008.