Cody McDonald and Adebayo Akinfenwa in celebratory mood Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler admits he will need to take special care of his prolific strikers as the season reaches its climax.

Hessenthaler was left with limited experience in reserve following Dennis Oli’s season-wrecking injury last week.

Teenage strikers Stefan Payne and Andy White are now Hessenthaler’s only back-up for 24-goal top scorer Cody McDonald and his 11-goal partner Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Hessenthaler, who was unable to bring fresh options in during the final transfer window, hoped to be able to call on Oli but last week’s reserve team injury will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Hessenthaler said: "We’ve got young boys and I threw Stefan on for a bit near the end on Saturday.

"He is capable but he is only young and we have really got to keep the two boys up top fit now to the end of the season. We need to wrap them up in cotton wool."

McDonald and Akinfenwa have started the majority of games this season and have proved a formidable partnership, which has helped keep the side in the thick of the promotion race.

McDonald’s double in the rout against Lincoln took him to 24 goals – just one off League 2’s leading scorer Ryan Lowe, of Bury.

Would Gillingham be able to cope if either Cody McDonald or Adebayo Akinfenwa were ruled out through injury? Leave your comments below.