Gillingham captain Kyle Dempsey is set for surgery on his injury early next week.

Dempsey is one of several key players missing for the Gills and he is in need of a minor operation. Only once he has that will the medical staff be able to advise on a time-frame for his return.

Manager Steve Evans has put his absence anywhere between three to 10 weeks but will know more next week. Dempsey picked up his injury in last weekend’s match against Sheffield Wednesday.

“I think he is minimum three or four weeks,” Evans said. “Maximum eight to 10. That is where we are.

”It was a little tear in his cartilage and he will have an op on Monday or Tuesday, then it will be about speed of recovery and the one thing about Kyle is that he has the heart of the size of Big Ben.

“He will want to be fit, but it will be down to the bodies healing process. It is a simple op, key hole surgery and he will probably be in and out, but it will be how quickly he can acclimatise and withstand the pain because it will be about a pain ratio when he comes back.”

More on the Gills;

• Evans points to injuries after Crewe defeat

• QPR striker won't be back says Gills boss

• Gills beaten by bottom side: Join the debate