STRIKER Marlon King has only a "half decent" chance of facing second-placed promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion at Priestfield on Saturday, according to manager Andy Hessenthaler.

King suffered a hamstring injury that forced him out of Monday's 2-1 defeat at Walsall.

The influential Paul Shaw, who has been missing owing to a hamstring strain, is rated no better than 50-50 for Saturday.

Hessenthaler stressed: "West Brom are a good, strong side and we'll need our best players back to face them. If we perform the way we did at home to West Ham then we'll bounce back from that defeat at Walsall.

"It's all about consistency and unfortunately, since we've been in Division 1 that's been our problem. Getting the key players back will, I'm sure, see us go on a decent run."

Players who may return to the side are goalkeeper Jason Brown and Nicky Southall. Brown missed Monday's match with a strained ankle tendon while midfielder Southall has been out with an ankle injury.