Gillingham striker Vadaine Oliver is fit again in time to face Northampton Town - a team he helped to promotion six months ago.

Oliver had a productive 2019/20 season with the Cobblers, helping them to a play-off win from League 2 and appearing in the 4-0 victory over Exeter City at Wembley to clinch promotion at the end of June.

Northampton were keen for Oliver to extend his stay beyond a year but Gillingham boss Steve Evans managed to convince him that Priestfield was a better place to progress.

Oliver, 29, has been one of the standout players since his summer move, scoring seven goals, assisting in almost as many, regularly winning more aerial duals in a weekend than most and helping to keep the Gills in the play-off hunt.

He watched from the bench as the Gills beat Rochdale 4-1 last time out - lacking full fitness after picking up an injury while attempting an overhead kick against Accrington - but is one of several who will have benefited from the enforced break after their Boxing Day match with Peterborough United was one of six called off because of Covid-related issues.

Gillingham travel to Northampton Town on Tuesday night.

“It’s his old club and he will be itching to play,” said the Gills boss Evans, speaking before Christmas.

“He got a knock. It was a seven-to-10 day job so he had plenty of time.”

Evans gave an update on Oliver's progress on Monday morning, saying: "We have Vadaine 100% fit now. He has been running about in training trying to impress to play against Northampton."

Northampton have lost their last two games 4-0 and manager Keith Curle is in need of a result. Evans praised his opposite number, saying: “Keith has done fantastic and I can’t believe I am reading stuff that he shouldn’t be the manager of Northampton.

"He galvanised them from where they were and took them to promotion and V (Oliver) played a big part in it.

“They tried to keep him but he wanted to go to a more established club that was in League 1. I worked hard to convince him.

“He turned down more money to stay at Northampton to come to us but I think he wanted to freshen up and play with a new manager, but that is nothing to do with Curly, because he loves him.”

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