Gillingham’s Billy Bingham has an outside chance of returning for the Southend game on Saturday.

The defensive midfielder has been out since the opening game of the season with a foot injury and head coach Ady Pennock will wait until the last minute before making a decision.

He’s a player Pennock feels the squad has missed.

“His injury has improved but it has to be right because it was a nasty whack,” said
Pennock.

“He will tick the team over. He is a great passer of the ball and will move it around in midfield well. He does see a forward pass and I am looking forward to him coming back as soon as possible.

“We will see what it is like at the end of the week and make that decision late for the Saturday.”

Pennock feels his side have also been hurt by the suspension of striker Conor Wilkinson, who serves the final two matches of his ban with the home games against Southend coming up.

He said: “Losing Conor Wilkinson and Billy Bingham has hurt us a lot.

“Conor will score us goals, he is a quality player. Billy Bingham will tick us over in midfield. They are players we have missed.

“Players have come in and done well but those two are two big players to miss.

“I do believe Conor will score us goals and create them as well. He has been good since he came in, he’s disappointed for being sent off and apologised straight away. We have missed him.”

*Gillingham will face Phoenix Sports in the second round of the Kent Reliance Senior Cup. Bostik South Phoenix beat VCD on penalties in the first round on Tuesday.