ANDY HESSENTHALER is dreaming of getting among the medals again in what could be his last season as a player.

As he prepared for his Hull debut at Chesterfield on Tuesday he dropped the broadest hint yet that he had played his final game for Gillingham and will hang up his boots at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old former Gills boss, who has joined the Tigers on a three-month loan, confessed that though he has two and a half years left on his Gillingham contract, this season could be his last.

He said: "I know my playing days are coming to an end but fitness-wise I don't have any problems. Maybe this will be my last season so it's great that someone like Peter Taylor has asked me to join him at Hull and get involved."

Hessenthaler, who won a play-off medal with Gillingham, arrived on Humberside bubbling with enthusiasm, believing that Hull can go up as champions. Victory at Chesterfield would propel Hull to the top of League 1.

Hesenthaler said: "I think my experience will help the players. I want to get amongst it and have a big input.

"We need to finish top and go up as champions into the Championship. Knowing Peter, he will want to win the league and get his hands on that title.

"I can't wait to get started. We got promoted together at Gillingham and we can do the same with Hull. They are a big club and hopefully I can help them push on, get automatic promotion and put them in the Championship where they belong."

Hessenthaler disclosed for the first time that Hull had him watched at Sunderland on January 3.

He added: "I'm told the report got back that I had done well, but then Peter knows what I'm all about."