It’s a make or break few days coming up for Gillingham midfielder Alex MacDonald as he looks to see off his injury problems.

The 31-year-old has been out for almost two months with a knee injury but has recently had a series of injections to try and fend the problem off. If the treatment works he could be back shortly but it it doesn’t then it’s likely he’ll need an operation and could be out for months.

Gillingham don’t have a game this weekend and MacDonald is one of a few that manager Steve Evans is hoping to have available soon. Their next match is away to Rotherham United on Tuesday, December 7.

Commenting on MacDonald’s situation, Evans said: “If the injections don’t sort the issue out then it will be an operation and season finished.

"I am being guided by the medical boys and Alex himself has been absolutely brilliant for me both at Mansfield and at Gillingham, he is a big character in the dressing room, a big voice and a leader of men and we miss him every day. It will be good if he comes through.”

Evans revealed on Monday that Dan Adshead is in need of an operation for a broken metatarsal while captain Kyle Dempsey will face surgery this week as well. Striker Vadaine Oliver is a few weeks off returning as is midfielder Ben Reeves.

But for others, there is a chance they could be back soon.

Left-back David Tutonda has, like MacDonald, been missing since the game at Wycombe in early October. It’s hoped he can be back in full training some time this week.

He suffered a substantial tear to a hamstring, of around seven centimetres and he’ll have to ease his way back, although there is a chance he could make it onto the team bus for Rotherham.

“We have to make sure that when the kid comes back that he is right,” Evans said. “He is working all the hours to get back and he is very close.”

Dan Phillips is another player the club are being cautious with after having hamstring issues. He’s another that they hope can train some time this week ahead of that big match next Tuesday.

Defender Rhys Bennett is isolating due to Covid issues but could also be available next week.