Gillingham are waiting anxiously to hear from doctors after goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga went down with a suspected bout of mumps.

The reserve keeper would be sidelined for several weeks if the club’s worse fears are confirmed.

Argentinian-born keeper Gazzaniga has had tests on Tuesday and the results are due back imminently.

Gazzaniga’s absence would leave the Gills with just one senior keeper, Ross Flitney, as third choice Daren Hawkes is currently on loan at Ramsgate and youth keeper Ashley Bourne is injured.

Hessenthaler said: "He has picked up something and it may be mumps. We are not hundred per cent sure yet.

"He is not well and his glands are all up. We will find out fairly soon what is wrong with him.

"I wouldn’t have thought we will bring anyone in and we could go without a goalkeeper for the weekend. I have done that a lot of times and it is not a massive problem."

Hawkes does not return to the Gills until the middle of September.

"He has got two games left and then he will be back," said Hessenthaler.

"He is a pro and he has been knocking on the door which is why we sent him out on loan, to get some games. He will come into contention."

Hessenthaler would be reluctant to turn to first year scholar Daniel Fox as a back-up and would instead add an extra outfield player to the bench

Do you think the Gills should bring in a loan keeper as cover or take a gamble? Comment below.