Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has hinted that Barry Fuller could hold onto the right-back spot to face former side AFC Wimbledon this weekend.

Fuller, 33, rejoined the Gills in the summer, six years after leaving, following a career threatening knee injury.

The tough-tacking defender overcame that injury and after a season at Barnet he enjoyed another five at Wimbledon, playing over 200 league games for the Dons and captaining them to promotion.

He was released by Wimbledon in the summer and Gills boss Steve Lovell was quick to act, bringing the Ashford-based defender back to the club, providing competition to Luke O'Neill for the full-back position.

O'Neill got the nod at the start of the season but Fuller was handed his first start under Lovell for last weekend's match at Barnsley.

Fuller reveals the turmoil of the injury that cut short his previous spell at Gillingham

That start followed substitute appearances for Fuller against Millwall and Walsall.

Lovell said: “Luke is a really good professional and there is no harm in taking a couple of games out, he has been great.

"I have spoken to him about it, it is part of football, there are another 40 league games to go and Luke will have a big part to play in them. Who knows, in the near future he could be back in the team.”

Another former Dons player, Dean Parrett, is unlikely to feature this Saturday. He’s missing with a hamstring injury and may need another week to get over that.

Wimbledon are likely to include former Gillingham players Scott Wagstaff, Andy Barcham and Deji Oshilaha - the latter who is their new captain.

Wagstaff was released by Gills boss Lovell in the summer and he insists there are no hard feelings.