ANDY HESSENTHALER has been urged to dismiss all thoughts of retirement and carry on playing beyond his 38th birthday in June.

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Steve Coppell, whom Hessenthaler goes head-to-head with at Priestfield on Saturday, believes the Gills boss should carry on playing for as long as he feels fit.

But he confessed to being relieved that suspension keeps him from facing his side on Saturday.

Coppell said: “I saw Gillingham at Reading and Andy was immense that night. He came off and Gillingham lost. Had he stayed on then that wouldn’t have happened. What I like about him is that he has this edge to his game which makes him so effective.

“I mean no disrespect to the rest of the Gillingham players, but if he retired, Gillingham would certainly miss him.”

Both sides will be without key players for a match. Hessenthaler starts the first of a two-match suspension that also keeps him out of Tuesday’s visit from Nottingham Forest.

Mark Saunders, who has recovered from a hamstring strain sustained at Preston, returns as his replacement.

The rest of the side will remain unchanged, providing centre-back Barry Ashy recovers from a calf injury. The Seagulls will be without 10-goal top scorer Bobby Zamora through suspension plus fellow front runner Gary Hart.