Stand-in captain Danny Kedwell was substituted to protect him from another injury.

Kedwell, starting just his second match after two months out, ran himself into the ground against Crawley before making way for Josh Pritchard after 73 minutes.

Manager Peter Taylor feels Kedwell will soon be able to manage 90 minutes but said: “I just thought he was extremely tired. I thought he did great but the last bit he did, he couldn’t sort his feet out.

“He was looking very, very tired, so that’s the time all of a sudden you go and get another injury.

“That then drives you mad, so I preferred to get him off to make sure he’s ready for next week.”

There’s good news on the injury front for Gills, with Taylor revealing defender Kortney Hause could return at Fleetwood this Saturday.

The England under-20 centre-half twisted his knee in Gills’ draw at Rochdale last weekend.