Jo Kuffour goes for goal against Bradford on Saturday Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Andy Hessenthaler insists he has a back-up plan if Gillingham fail to land Jo Kuffour permanently.

The 29-year-old striker is on loan from fellow League 2 side Bristol Rovers and has three more games left of the current deal before he heads back to his parent club.

With five goals in 10 appearances the livewire front-man has impressed Hessenthaler and the Gills are currently in talks with Rovers about tying up a long-term deal.

Kuffour’s performances won’t have gone unnoticed elsewhere, however, and other clubs could hijack Gills’ transfer attemps and leave Hessenthaler looking elsewhere.

Hessenthaler will also lose Frank Nouble in mid-December, when the five-goal striker returns to West Ham, but he is prepared for whatever happens.

He said: "We have got some plans and we have thought about a few things. We played Bournemouth without Frank and Jo and with Danny Kedwell up there we won the game.

"We are adaptable with the squad we have got and there is no reason why we can’t win games without those two.

"But we know we only have to get an injury to Keds and then we are very light on numbers upfront. We do have a plan B if the Jo Kuffour (deal) doesn’t come off and with Frank going back.

"We have things we can work on at the end of December and beginning of January. Myself and the chairman have got some ideas and we will see what comes up on the next few weeks."

Gillingham have been left light in attack following the long-term injury to Adam Birchall in pre-season.

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