GILLINGHAM are reeling from the possible long-term loss of striker Paul Shaw just weeks after losing top-scorer Marlon King for the rest of the season.

Shaw, a strong candidate for the Player of the Year award, tweaked a cartilage in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Preston, which forced him to miss the second half.

Last month King suffered a similar injury at Derby which was later diagnosed as cruciate knee ligament damage.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler immediately ruled Shaw out of tomorrow's FA Cup, fourth round, replay at Leeds where the squad could also be minus skipper Paul Smith, Barry Ashby and Mark Saunders.

"Paul Shaw is struggling," said Hessenthaler. "He saw the Preston club doctor and he believes it's a cartilage problem which puts him out of Tuesday's game.