Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler has warned fans not to get too carried away about Adam Birchall’s return to running.

The former Dover Athletic striker has hit the treadmill for the first time this week since damaging his knee ligaments in the pre-season friendly with Welling United in July.

Despite being ahead of schedule and desperate to get back into first team action, Hessenthaler is urging caution as the striker makes his comeback from injury.

Hessenthaler told the club’s official website: “Without getting too carried away, he’s started running this week, or jogging, on the crash mat so there’s not too much weight bearing on the knee because we don’t want to start too early in case there’s any reaction on that.

“He’s an excited young man at the moment because he’s got to that stage. We’re excited but we’re not going to get carried away because he’s still got a long way to go.

“He’s given everyone a lift, I don’t think it’ll be too long before he’ll be back down the training ground and that’ll give us another lift.”

The sight of Birchall on the training ground will indeed be a massive boost to The Gills squad and could come just at the right time with Frank Nouble and Jo Kuffour’s loan spells set to end.

Birchall will still be some weeks away from a return, but when he finally makes his full Gillingham debut, he is likely to want to make an immediate impact for the side he has been linked with for some years.