Mark Stimson hasn’t ruled out a return to the squad for Andrew Crofts after no other clubs showed an interest in the deposed skipper.

The Gillingham manager admitted Crofts has trained harder than ever since suffering the treble whammy of being stripped of the captaincy, dropped from the squad and put on the transfer list.

Crofts’ name was circulated to teams in League 1 and the Championship for loan or a permanent deal, but, as yet, no teams have officially shown an interest.

Stimson said: "I’ve said to Andrew that whoever rings me, I’ll be ringing him straight away and then it’s up to him to decide if that loan move suits him.

"Although I’m leaving him out of our team I’m opening it up if any other team, a league or two levels above, takes him on loan but I told him not to feel sorry for himself.

"If someone goes down, I’m looking for who is ready and if he’s better than the other players then he’ll play. I’m not stupid enough to say he’ll never play for this football club again.

"On Friday he probably trained the best he has done since I’ve been here. There was a decision to leave him off the bench on Saturday and he came in and did his work with the fitness coach and the report was good.

"We’ll come in on Monday and assess the injuries. We’ll go up to Lincoln and Macclesfield, and he might get back in the squad yet."