Matt Fish has been included in Gillingham’s development squad which faces Southend United on Tuesday.

The defender hasn’t played since suffering a serious knee injury in Gills’ opening game of the season, at home against Colchester United in August.

Fish, 24, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament just minutes into Gillingham’s season curtain-raiser.

Since then, Fish has been working his way back to full fitness.

He recently returned to light training and could even start the game in Southend.

And Gills boss Peter Taylor hasn’t ruled out a brief cameo role for the defender at the end of the season, if the threat of relegation has disappeared.

Taylor said: “Matty thinks that maybe he isn’t going to be playing until next season and I think he feels that if he gets some type of football in this year, that will make him more confident for pre-season and that’s good for him.

“If we are safe there is a chance (of him playing) without a doubt.”

Other players who are expected to feature against Southend are Gary Borrowdale, Adam Birchall and Antonio German.