Gillingham striker Sam Vokes says weekend visitors Newport County will feel the loss of their “standout player.”
The Gills return to action on Saturday, after two weeks without a game, and their visitors Newport will be fighting a relegation battle with the loss of a key player.
Vokes – speaking on the Feast of Football podcast – believes the loss of 21-year-old Sammy Braybrooke will be blow to Newport, who head to Priestfield rock bottom of League 2.
Braybrooke made 22 appearances for Newport, on loan from Leicester City, but will finish the season at Chesterfield, swapping a relegation battle for a promotion one in the same division.
Newport say they “made every effort” to retain the midfielder until the end of the season but without success.
“Sammy Braybrooke will be a big miss for them,” said Gills’ influential striker Vokes.
“We’ve played them twice this (season) and from what I saw and experienced, he was their standout player.
“I’m not surprised he got a move but surprised he didn’t get a chance at the league above. It’s a good signing for Chesterfield.”
Braybrooke is one of a handful of new signings for Chesterfield and finished his time at Newport with a goal in their 2-0 home win over Crewe.
It was a first win for their manager Christian Fuchs, one that briefly took them off the foot of the table. They dropped down again after a 2-1 loss at Bromley on New Year’s Day – the last time they played.
Gillingham beat Newport 3-1 when they played at Rodney Parade.
A return to Newport in the FA Cup ended in a penalty shootout defeat for the Gills after the match finished 2-2. Braybrooke played in both games, with former Wales international Vokes coming off the bench on each occasion.
Newport have looked to fill the gap by signing midfielder Harrison Biggins on loan from relegation rivals Shrewsbury Town, where he had only played six times. They have also added big striker James Crole to the ranks from Welsh Premier Division side Penybont, having previously been at Cardiff City.
Gillingham are yet to make their move in the January transfer window, at the halfway point. Ross County striker Ronan Hale is a player that has continually been linked, with multiple bids submitted, according to reports in Scotland.
Like Newport, the Gills haven’t played since New Year’s Day. A 2-0 defeat at Swindon extended the winless run in League 2 for Gareth Ainsworth’s side to nine games.
Since the Gills beat Newport in the league on September 20, they’ve won just once more. Their last win at Priestfield was against Notts County a week earlier, on September 13th.
