Gillingham’s season could well hinge on what happens over the next month or so with important games to come in the next few weeks.

Obviously, the tie that everyone’s talking about is the FA Cup Third Round clash with Stoke City, but Gills fans will be just as keen to ensure that the side maintain their form in the league.

Whenever a side gets a big cup tie, there is always the tendancy to keep one eye on that fixture and Gillingham’s players will be no different to any other player up and down the land wanting to have their time in the limelight.

What they mustn’t do is throw all their eggs into that basket and miss out on what could be a pivotal few weeks in the League Two season.

Starting at Macclesfield on Saturday, The Gills need to get back down to earth after the win at Leyton Orient on the weekend and look to climb up the table and go into the Stoke game full of confidence and with points in the bag.

As it stands, Frank Nouble will have returned to West Ham by then, Jo Kuffour could well be back with Bristol Rovers or even on his way to another club. What Andy Hessenthaler will be hoping is that he can persuade Nouble to stay on until the end of the season and possibly tie up a permanent deal for Kuffour.

The money from the Stoke tie gained from a sell-out at Priestfield will go a long way to helping Hessenthaler’s cause, with the boss admitting this week that there could also be a few changes of personnel in the January transfer window.

Luke Rooney’s future still remains in some doubt having held talks with the club on Tuesday without coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Despite still training with the first team, Rooney is still being kept out of the squad and may well be one of those to exit Priestfield in the transfer window.

Fringe players such as Connor Essam, Callum Davies and Dean Rance can expect to find themselves back out on loan with non-league clubs in the coming weeks as Hessenthaler looks to balance the books.

The trick for Hessenthaler at this stage of the season will be to try and keep his whole squad happy, keep them focused on the league, whilst dangling the carrot of a place in the side for the FA Cup game.

Who said being a manager is easy?

Meanwhile, it has been announced this morning that the Gills have missed out on being one of the FA Cup games to be shown on TV.

The Stoke game has been confirmed at taking place at Priestfield on Saturday 7th January 2012 with kick off at 3pm.