Gillingham were without the services of their two main strikers at the weekend but their absence will only be temporary.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler believes the pair could be back to face Torquay at Priestfield this coming Saturday.

"There is a chance they could both be back," said Hessenthaler. "That would give me a nice problem and I haven’t had that for a while."

Akinfenwa (pictured) was forced to rest a niggling groin injury while McDonald, with three goals in four games, had to sit out the game with a calf problem.

Hessenthaler chose to play Dennis Oli on his own up front against Port Vale. No goals materialised but together with Curtis Weston as back-up the pair caused problems.

"Sometimes it’s horses for courses," said Hessenthaler. "We could have gone two up top but we decided to go with Dennis as they weren’t the quickest or most mobile at the back.

"His pace caused them problems and, with Curtis playing in a position which he played last year at times, for me it worked.

"In the end they got tired and I said to Mark McCammon and Stefan Payne to go on and get the winner. It didn’t materialise but it was good to have that option."