Gillingham boss Mark Bonner has issued an update on Bradley Dack’s condition – and hopes 2025 can be a good year for the former Rovers favourite.

Dack returned to the Priestfield Stadium in the summer after spending last season at Sunderland, scoring once in 17 appearances for the Black Cats.

The 30-year-old has only featured twice for the Gills so far this term and now faces another month on the sidelines.

“It is probably going to be four weeks before we can get him back out. Every time we have tried, something has not quite worked and it is just going to take time,” Bonner told BBC Kent.

“To be honest, I have probably thought all along that 2025 is the year for him. Hopefully, we can really see the best of him and get him going.

“It was always going to be a slow burner, he needs training, time and opportunities to fix certain things in his body.

“We need to just work with him on that and every time we have pushed a little bit, it has just been a bit too much.

“We have to accept that and understand that he needs time. He has seen a couple of different specialists with some good ideas, people who have known him over the past couple of years.

“He has obviously had a tough couple of years with a number of injuries. If someone is not training or playing for a long period, it takes time over the initial injury and surrounding things can go wrong.

Dack caught Rovers’ eye during his first spell at Gillingham, scoring 38 goals in 185 matches for the Kent club.

“I don’t think it was ever going to be a quick return to the team. He got on the pitch but isn’t close to being Bradey Dack yet,” Bonner continued.

“We need to make sure that we put him on the pitch when he is really ready and build up. We are having to take a few steps back now and I think we just have to accept that.

“It is not really a surprise, we went into it knowing that was probably the scenario. As desperate as everyone might be to see him on the pitch – I want to see him on the pitch where he can help us win – we need to try and get him there.

“If it takes longer, that is no problem for me because there will be plenty of games in the new year that he can help us win.”