STEVE Banks is hoping to cause problems for Colin Todd.

The Wanderers keeper made his first appearance of the season in last night's emphatic Worthington Cup win at Gillingham and doesn't intend it being his last.

Keith Branagan, rested for the cup tie, is expected to be restored to the starting line-up for the Roses battle with Barnsley at the Reebok on Saturday but Banks has thrown down the gauntlet in what is likely to become a close selection contest.

"I would like to think I've given the manager a problem for Saturday," he said after enjoying a happy return to Priestfield, where he played for two seasons before coming north to further his career, first with Blackpool and now with Wanderers.

It was a surprise call for Banks, who missed the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a double hernia problem in the summer.

"I only knew about an hour and a half before the game," he admitted. "I was quite surprised because nothing had been mentioned.

Good opportunity

"It was what I wanted though. What a place to make my comeback!"

Todd said the time was right to give Banks a game. "It was no reflection on Keith's performance at Charlton," the manager explained. "I felt I needed to give Steve a game and, being against one of his old clubs, I felt it was a good opportunity. He did well."

Just about everything went well for Wanderers at Priestfield. A 4-1 win over the second Division side has turned next Tuesday's home leg at the Reebok into a near-formality while boosting confidence throughout the team.

Defenders Neil Cox and Gudni Bergsson got their names on the scoresheet in the emphatic victory and sandwiched in between were two superb strikes from Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Icelander was close to a hat-trick too with a late shot skidding off the top of the Gillingham bar.

He was philosophical about his misfortune though: "Obviously I would have been delighted to take the match ball home but the main thing was that we had a good win.

"You can never underestimate these teams."

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