MARK SAUNDERS could miss the rest of the season after badly breaking his leg against Preston on Saturday.

The 34-year-old broke the tibula and fibula in his right leg in just the fourth minute of Saturday’s match at Priestfield in a tackle with Claude Davis.

The incident overshadowed Gills’ 2-1 win against Craig Brown’s side. Saunders is now facing a lengthy lay-off which could see him miss the rest of Gillingham’s Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler was upset at losing one of his more experienced players.

He said: “Mark’s broken both the bones in his leg and it’s overshadowed the win. He’s a good lad and a great professional and we’ll miss him because he can play in a number of positions.

“When he plays you know what you’re going to get from him. It’s very sad news. I wouldn’t have thought we’d see him again this season but who knows.

“You can never tell with these things. I’m very sad about it but I’m pleased with the win. Our thoughts go out to Mark and his family. I’ll be in touch with him in the next couple of days."

But despite his disappointment, Hessenthaler put no blame on Preston's Claude Davis, who tackled Saunders.

He said: “Chris Hope thought the fella was a little bit high but it was one of those things. The lad had a poor touch and it was a fifty-fifty for me.

“I heard the crack and I knew straight away. To hear Mark shout out the way he did I knew there was a big problem there. He’s a tremendous man and we'll certainly miss him.”