Andy Hessenthaler has assured Gillingham fans that striker Cody McDonald will stay at Priestfield for the remainder of the season.

McDonald (pictured) is on a season-long loan from Norwich with no call-back clauses in the contract.

Gills boss Hessenthaler is now backing the striker to double his 11-goal tally as the Gills start the second half of their League 2 campaign with a home game against Northampton on Saturday.

The Gills boss said: "He is on a year’s loan so he can’t go back. He looks like he is going to score a goal every time he goes out at the moment.

"I see no reason why he can’t get over that 20-goal mark."

Hessenthaler looks set to have Adebayo Akinfenwa back this weekend to face his old club as the Gills revert to a familiar 4-4-2 formation. Akinfenwa was left out last weekend with a groin injury.

Simon King will return to the squad after sitting out last weekend’s match as a precaution but several players remain sidelined.

Jack Payne returned to training this week but won’t be fit for selection until next weekend and that’s also the case with Joe Martin.

Dennis Oli, Chris Palmer, Mark McCammon and Tony Sinclair are several weeks away from being fit.