Simon King maintains hope that he can play some part for the Gills this season.

The injured defender steps up his rehabilitation on Monday when he travels to the Lilleshall Sports Injury Rehab Centre.

There he will receive specialist attention on an ankle injury that has kept him out since pre-season.

King is hoping to be back on the training ground in two weeks and playing reserve team football in the spring.

He said: "The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

"It’s been very slow, tedious and tough. Because I’ve been out for so long now, though, I’ve come to terms with it and accepted the fact that there is nothing I can do about it.

"What I’ve got to do is make sure I get fit and keep fit. Time has recently flown by and now in a couple of weeks I’ll be jogging.

"I’ve got to the stage now where I’m looking forward to doing a few sessions with fitness coach Danny Ellis and I never thought I would say that!

"I would love to play a few games this season and it just depends on how well it goes when I start doing my running. My goal is to be part of the first team this season and I’m not ruling it out.

"Hopefully in mid-March I can get some reserve games in. It just depends upon the circumstances and where we are in the league.

"If we’ve got nothing to play for, the manager may chuck me in but if we are in a scrap to avoid relegation, then he might not want to risk someone who has been out injured all season."

King is preparing to head to Lilleshall under the supervision of some of the country’s elite physiotherapists for a week.

He said: "I’ve never been there before but a few of the boys have said that I could be in for a shock as they work you hard.

"I’m quite pleased I’m going because it’s what I need."