King has played six games in his loan spell at Plymouth

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler says defender Simon King could return to Plymouth to complete his loan spell.

The 28-year-old was sent back to Priestfield after suffering an ankle injury two games before the end of his two-month stint at Home Park.

But Hessenthaler believes King should be able to feature for Argyle against Morecambe on 5 November.

"Simon came in, he's had an injection. The following weekend he should be available," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"I spoke to Simon myself, he just needs a few days to settle down and as far as he's concerned he's going back to Plymouth. I need to clarify that with Carl Fletcher.

"As to that being the end of his loan spell, I'm a bit mystified by that."

The injury is on a different ankle to the one the 28-year-old had career saving surgery on last year.

King was Gills' player of the year in 2008-09 but suffered a serious ankle injury the following pre-season which ruled him out for the 2009-10 season.

Meanwhile Hessenthaler says he will not watch Sunday's FA Cup first-round draw after being drawn against former club Dover last year, a tie the Gills lost 2-0.

"I'm not watching it," he said. "I remember watching the draw last year, there were a lot of negatives around.

"This year we're a lot better but we'd like to avoid non-league clubs.

"It's very difficult to play against them, especially at home, they all raise their game, they come back to bite you on the backside.

"Leading up to the FA Cup last year we were down in the doldrums, we were not playing well but this year it's a different scenario."

Three of the Dover side that day, striker Adam Birchall, defender Matt Fish and goalkeeper Ross Flitney, all joined Gillingham in the summer.

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