Ronald Sithole’s loan spell at Faversham should be a lot more fruitful with his new strike partner on the field.

Gillingham manager Neil Harris was delighted to see Adebayo Akinfenwa sign for Faversham last week after coming out of retirement. He’s playing upfront alongside Gills youth player Sithole - who is currently on loan with the Lilywhites.

• Bayo set for Swale derby inclusion

Sithole and Akinfenwa partnered each other on March 11 and it was a combination that led to them leading 1-0 - with a goal from the Gills man. Unfortunately Bayo - who has come out of retirement aged 40 - seized up and had to be replaced at the break. Town lost 2-1.

Bayo was unavailable last weekend but is set to make his Faversham home debut this Saturday in their Swale derby at home to Sittingbourne.

“It is incredible, amazing,” said Harris, of Akinfenwa’s shock move to Faversham.

“I was astonished when I saw it and so happy.

“Bayo will look after him, because he is an unbelievable character as we know and a top, top leader.

“What an opportunity for young Ronald. He will have to do a lot of running, playing alongside Bayo, like I had to do when I played with him. But his leadership qualities and the way he conducts himself around the place is mega.”

Akinfenwa and Harris were briefly team-mates at Millwall during the first half of the 2007/08 season. The big striker had two spells for the Gills between 2010 and 2014, best remembered for his partnership alongside Cody McDonald.

The striker retired at the end of last season after Wycombe’s play-off final at Wembley.