CAMERON Brannagan is champing at the bit to play after serving a suspension – but knows he may have to be patient as Oxford United visit Gillingham today.

The midfielder is available again after serving a two-game ban for picking up his tenth Sky Bet League One booking of the season.

In his absence, the U’s have collected their first back-to-back league wins of the season, with Mark Sykes making the most of the vacancy.

It may mean Brannagan, whose U’s debut came on this weekend 12 months ago, has to be content with a place on the bench at Priestfield for the crunch clash between two sides just above the bottom four.

Karl Robinson column

But rotation is likely across three big games in eight days, which should open the door for the 22-year-old, who readily admits he is always a frustrated spectator.

“I hate it, with a passion,” he said.

“I want to play every game, but it is what it is.

“I was buzzing we won two massive games that we needed to win. I went to both and I was pleased for the lads.

“We’re a team and we stick together.

“There are a lot of games this week, so there might be a bit of changing around.

“People are going to need rest and others are going to have to come in and do well. I’m looking forward to this week.

“The lads that have been playing have done great and deserve to play, there’s no doubt about that.

“I can only keep training hard and it’s up to the gaffer.”

Brannagan’s return increases U’s boss Karl Robinson’s selection headache, with fellow midfielder Ahmed Kashi also available after recovering from illness.

That means one of the club’s six loanees will have to be left at home, while Gavin Whyte is pushing for a start after impressing as a substitute in the win over Scunthorpe United a week ago.

The game will come too soon for Gills pair Billy Bingham and Alex Lacey, while boss Steve Lovell says he is not planning to take a risk on Ricky Holmes.

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Gillingham: from Holy, Fuller, O’Neill, Ehmer, Ogilvie, Parrett, Da Silva Lopes, Byrne, Hanlan, Eaves, Burke, Campbell, Rees, Holmes, King, List, Reilly, Charles-Cook, Hadler.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Long, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Mousinho, Whyte, Henry, Sykes, Graham, Sinclair, Mackie, Smith, Browne, Carruthers, Brannagan, Kashi, Garbutt, Hanson, Stevens.