IAN COX is fighting hard to face his former side on Saturday.

Gillingham travel to Bournemouth short of defensive cover and Cox’s return would be a welcome boost for boss Mark Stimson.

The defender has been struggling with a thigh injury picked up at Yeovil and Stimson is hoping his defender recovers quickly.

“Fingers crossed Cox could be available,” said the Gills boss.

“If that’s the case then that will be a massive bonus because one thing he’s got is experience and we might be lacking that at the back at the moment.”

Cox played more than 200 games for Bournemouth between 1996 and 2000.

Stimson, who has centre-back Efe Sodje sidelined, brought in Adam Bygrave as cover from Reading.

But Bygrave was forced off with a twisted ankle against Port Vale last Saturday and, with no defensive cover on the bench, Stimson was forced to play Mark Bentley at the back.

Should Cox fail to win his fitness battle then Stimson could opt to play Bentley alongside Simon King in defence on Saturday.