Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has ruled out a return to the club for Cody McDonald.

The striker is a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract with AFC Wimbledon before the weekend.

McDonald spent last season with the Dons after rejecting a deal at Gillingham last summer. He played 32 league games for Wimbledon during the 2017/18 season, scoring five goals.

There has been speculation that the Essex-based striker could be making another return to Gillingham, following three previous spells with the club.

Lovell rates McDonald but doesn’t think the 32-year-old would fit into the way he is looking to play.

He said: “Cody has been a great player and a great servant but with the way that we play now, I am looking for pace and for people that can get around the pitch a little bit quicker.

But he added: “Cody will still do somebody a really good job as a goalscorer.”

Prior to joining Wimbledon he had been linked with a move to National League side Ebbsfleet and once again they are being touted as a possible destination for the goal-getter.

He was released by Wimbledon on Thursday, with a statement from the League 1 side saying: “After extensive discussions between Cody McDonald and the club we have terminated his contract by mutual agreement.

“We would like to thank Cody for his time at the club last season, where he made 40 appearances and scored seven goals. We wish him every success in his future career.”

On the same day Wimbledon also announced that former Gills defender Deji Oshilaja would be their captain for the new season. “Deji will lead by example on the pitch,” said their manager Neal Ardley.