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Gillingham pair Lee Hodson and Ouss Cisse may not be back next season after enjoying loans at St Mirren and Leyton Orient

It’s unlikely there will be room in Gillingham’s squad next season for the two senior players currently out on loan.

Midfielder Ouss Cisse is with League 2 Leyton Orient and defender Lee Hodson also left in January, moving back to St Mirren in the SPL.

Ouss Cisse made his last appearance for the Gills in the Football League Trophy
Ouss Cisse made his last appearance for the Gills in the Football League Trophy

Both were signed in the summer but between them only made nine League 1 appearances for the Gills before leaving.

Cisse looks to be enjoying life at Leyton Orient and has made a positive impact.

He had appeared only twice in the league under Steve Evans, having arrived last summer, following his release by MK Dons.

The Mali international, who turned 29 this week, went out to League 2 Orient for games and has been a regular for them, appearing 10 times.

Lee Hodson lost out to Barry Fuller for the right-back slot Picture: Ady Kerry
Lee Hodson lost out to Barry Fuller for the right-back slot Picture: Ady Kerry

He joined the Gills on a one-year deal and it seems unlikely that will be renewed.

Hodson was another summer signing, joining on a two year deal after his departure from Rangers, in Scotland. In had spent the whole of the previous campaign on loan at St Mirren.

He returned to the Buddies in January after struggling to earn himself a place in the Gills team. He made just seven appearances in League 1 before moving back north of the border.

Veteran defender Barry Fuller has been the preferred pick for the right back spot by Gillingham manager Steve Evans this season.

The 28-year-old has settled back in at his old club St Mirren, earning himself a regular place in the team, and they have already sounded the Gills out about keeping him next season.

Evans said: ”He has done very well at St Mirren and certainly before this coronavirus issue they have expressed a willingness to take him and Lee had expressed a willingness to stay in Scotland but we will see how that goes in the summer.”

St Mirren have put the majority of their staff on furloughed leave. The club were fighting off the threat of relegation before the season was put on hold.

Hodson is one of eight senior players contracted to the Gills beyond this summer.

Finances across the football world are sure to be tighter once the coronavirus crisis is over. The Gills were already shrewd movers in the transfer market and Evans won’t be spending money on players he isn’t sure about.

Gillingham’s players are currently trailing in isolation but Evans is keeping close tabs on them.

“The boys are in good health,” he said.

“They are training really hard and I am monitoring it every day with the information that comes in. I am looking at everything that they have been asked to do.

“It is easy not to do it, if you are a player, we are into our third week and we are asking them to go to the same area where they do their work, to do it and to hit the targets that we are setting them but I cannot fault them to a man, they have been delivering results and fair play to them.”

More on the Gills;

Generous boss left fuming

No return until it is safe

Skipper ready for anything

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