Simon King will be going all-out to win a place back in the Gillingham team after a suspension to captain Andy Frampton gave him an unexpected opportunity.

King has recently returned from a loan spell at Plymouth and the only thing holding him up now is a slight knee injury.

Both King and fellow senior defender Garry Richards are determined to take Frampton’s place in the side but both are facing a battle to be fit in time to face Aldershot on Saturday.

King, who has yet to appear for the Gills this season, has spent the last two years fighting off a career-threatening ankle injury which has seen him limited to just four Gillingham appearances since promotion from League 2 in 2009.

He said: "Apart from the niggly injury, I am ready. I feel different now because I have had those 90 minutes under my belt at Plymouth. It was tough down there and we were defending a lot of the time.

"It was good for me and to mentally get that block of games in. It has helped me confidence-wise.

"I have never doubted my ability but it had just been such a long time since I last played regular first-team football.

"You get back into the swing of things, with your defending and positioning. It all came back to me when I had those few games. Hopefully I can carry on playing well and when I get my chance, take it."

Picture: Barry Goodwin