Adam Birchall has an outside chance of making a cameo appearance in Gillingham’s end of season game against Morecambe.

The striker (pictured) has been out injured since pre-season but joined in full training for the first time on Monday.

First-team coach Nicky Southall was delighted to see the 27-year-old involved with the rest of the squad this week.

"He had a sparkle in his eye, he was terrific," said Southall. "He gave the lads a timely boost which they needed after failing to gain a play-off position on Saturday. He joined in and scored some great goals although he was still a bit wary of his injury.

"We wouldn’t want him to have a problem now he is so close. Maybe we can get this game out of the way and then he can have a full pre-season under his belt."

Gills signed Birchall from Dover for an undisclosed five-figure fee last summer after he hit 46 goals for the Blue Square Bet South side.

But his hopes of replicating that form for the Gills this season were left in tatters as he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a friendly against Welling on July 19. He hasn’t played a competitive game since.

"I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play 10 minutes on Saturday," said Gills chairman Paul Scally. "It would be great for him and the fans and I am sure people would come to pay and see him play for 10 minutes.

"It will be like a new signing for us and we hope he continues his recuperation and he is back for a full pre-season."