Gillingham defender Barry Fuller has been ruled out for the rest of the season as he needs surgery on his injured knee.

Fuller has been playing through the problem he sustained against Macclesfield in April, making 10 appearances this term, but after seeing a specialist earlier this week, it has now been confirmed he requires an operation to cure the injury.

“The knee has been a problem to him for some time and how he’s been getting through games lately, I don’t know,” manager Andy Hessenthaler told the club’s official website.

“It’s been decided he need an operation straight away and he can’t carry on playing like he has been, because if he does it would be career threatening.

“Once he has had the operation it will probably be nine months of rehab.

“It’s devastating news for Barry, he just wants to get out there and play. He’s quite upbeat though because the guy that he went to has told him the operation will enable him to continue his career.”

The 27 year old from Ashford has chalked up over 150 appearances for the Gills, but has been unlucky with injuries in his time at Priestfield, suffering from pneumonia a few seasons ago, whilst sustaining a knee injury against Ebbsfleet United in a pre-season friendly last summer that saw him miss the start of the season.

Fuller’s absence will mean Matt Fish will now be the club’s first choice right back and Hessenthaler may well have to look at bolstering his squad with Adam Birchall and Danny Spiller also ruled out until next year.