By Luke Cawdell

Danny Spiller faces surgery to repair a damaged finger that Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler revealed the midfielder could lose if he returns to action too early.

Spiller, pictured, suffered the fracture in the defeat to Chesterfield on Tuesday night and subsequently missed the weekend win over Aldershot.

Hessenthaler said: "People say, ‘well he only broke a finger, he should be all right’, but it’s actually quite bad and he has a real bad break.

"The ligaments in and around the knuckle area are hanging on there and he is going to have surgery. If he comes back too early he could lose that finger; it’s as bad as that."

Spiller picked up the break after the ball hit him on the tip of one of his middle fingers. One option is to insert a metal rod, which will leave the finger permanently straightened.

"His finger would stay like that for the rest of his life," Hessenthaler said.

"It’s a serious matter in terms of his life beyond football. You don’t want him having problems when he gets older."

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