Cody McDonald could make a quick return for the Gills this weekend.

The striker missed the midweek match against Scunthorpe with an injury picked up last weekend at Crewe. He got a whack to the bottom of the foot in the 1-0 win.

McDonald is being touted as a “possibility” ahead of the match against Southend on Saturday.

Fellow striker Luke Norris will be a longer-term absentee after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the Crewe game. There is no break reported but the player is expected to be out for several weeks, at best.

“Hopefully, the ligament damage isn’t as bad as we fear,” said boss Justin Edinburgh, speaking on Tuesday night.

“You always get an indication off the player and he is a lot more positive than he was on Monday and that is good news.”

Ryan Jackson will return from suspension while Josh Wright begins a three game ban after the failure of an appeal against his red card in midweek.

Edinburgh said: “We have Ryan Jackson back from suspension and Cody McDonald I think will be fit. We get two back into the pack.”

Edinburgh also told the official club programme: "We lose (Wright) for three games which is a big blow because he’s been consistently good since he’s come into the team.

"Like I always say though, someone’s misfortune is somebody else’s gain and whoever comes in we will be strong."

Captain Doug Loft remains out with an Achilles injury but was back doing ball work in the week.