Defender Tony Sinclair could be out injured until February.

Sinclair has been carrying an injury for several weeks and a precautionary scan identified a broken bone in his foot.

He will now be out for "four to six weeks" to let the damage heal itself.

Sinclair’s injury is just the latest in a long line that has hit the Gillingham squad this season.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler said: "It’s a blow but nothing surprises me at this football club when it comes to injuries.

"It’s been one of those years so far with the injury situation which has been against us.

"We just have to get on with things, we can’t do anything about it.

"He has been playing with it for a while and thought it was just bruising. He went to have it scanned and it showed up a fracture in the toe area."

Hessenthaler could, however, have both Garry Richards and Simon King fit and available to play in the Boxing Day clash with Aldershot, as they look to challenge the current central defensive pairing of Josh Gowling and Matt Lawrence.

Sinclair has made 18 appearances for the Gills this season since joining from Woking.