CHRIS DICKSON'S loan spell with Gillingham has ended early after Charlton decided to recall the striker.

The Gills' 11-goal top scorer was set to play his final game of a three-month loan spell at Brighton on Friday.

Charlton boss Alan Pardew has injuries to several key players and he was keen to see Dickson return in good health ahead of a busy Christmas period.

Pardew explained: "There are doubts about the fitness of our top-scorer Chris Iwelumo while Luke Varney is ill.

"He (Dickson) has an ankle injury which concerns me. If he plays against Brighton and the injury gets worse, then that's another striker that we've lost."