GILLINGHAM have slammed the breaks on Adrian Pennock's rehabilitation programme - because he's too keen. The plucky defender, fighting to save his career following serious injury at Birmingham in October, has been told to ease up by club physiotherapist Ken Steggles as he bids to fulfil a promise to play again this season.

Pennock sustained tears in both the cruciate and cartilage in a left knee already held together by four bolts after falling awkwardly late in the 2-1 defeat. Since then he has been pounding the long, hard road to recovery, running up and down the Rainham and Gillingham Ends of Priestfield while undergoing regular weight work at the nearby Black Lion gymnasium.

He is also attempting to strengthen the knee on a trampoline and has even started sprinting. But now Steggles has put reins on him. Pennock explained: "Apparently, I've been going too fast for my own good. I have the greatest respect for Ken Steggles and as I've said before, no club could have a better physio. So far as I'm concerned, what he says goes."

The injury means Pennock will have Christmas off for the first time in his career.