By Luke Cawdell

Irish defender Darren Dennehy has extended his loan with Gillingham for a further two months.

The left-sided central defender has agreed to stay for the maximum 93-day period allowed under short-term loan rules.

That means the 21-year-old will be available up to and including the visit to current league leaders Norwich on April 24.

“It’s unfortunate that it falls just short of the end of the season but that’s all we can do,” said manager Mark Stimson.

Dennehy completed his seventh appearance for the Gills on Saturday and in four of those he has helped the side to a clean sheet. Last week he was recalled into the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad.

There remains an outside chance that injured defender Simon King could be fit to fill the void left by Dennehy in the final two games of the season.

“That would be a massive bonus,” said Stimson. “He is getting on well and he’s doing everything I ask of him but we just have to monitor him week by week.”

Tristan Plummer’s loan deal from Bristol City expired on Saturday but the Gills are not taking him for any longer.

The winger made two appearances during his stay but was blighted by a hip injury.