Adam Birchall has yet to kick a ball for Gillingham but there is hope he could still return before the end of the season.

Birchall (pictured) made just four brief pre-season appearances before suffering a career-threatening knee injury in a friendly at Welling in July. He had been with the Gills for just a week, after signing from Dover.

Six months on, after reconstructive surgery, he can now kick a ball but physio Steve Allen knows the healing process can’t be rushed.

Allen said: "He is doing really well with his gym and rehab work but we have had to take him back a bit because he was over-doing it. Sometimes less is more.

"We haven’t put a time on his recovery because if he fails that date it’s a negative and he will be thinking it has all gone wrong. But he will be back when he is ready and hopefully he will be ready before the end of the season."

Birchall received comforting assurance from Stoke’s Danny Higginbotham during the recent FA Cup game.

The Premier League defender suffered the same injury but is back playing again, now on loan at Nottingham Forest.

"He said to Adam, ‘look at me, I am back’," revealed Allen. "He said sometimes it’s slow but sure and he’s taken that onboard psychologically. It’s been a boost for a Premier League player to take the time to speak to him. He advised Adam it’s not all doom and gloom."