MARLON KING’S seven-month wait to start a match for Gillingham will end at Vicarage Road on Saturday when he will lead the attack against bottom club Watford.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler is ready to gamble on the match fitness of the 23-year-old striker, whose last appearance in the starting line-up was at Pride Park, Derby, on January 11 when he seriously damaged his cruciate knee ligaments.

With Tommy Johnson suspended and stand-in striker Nyron Nosworthy injured, the Gills boss has little option but to go with King and the jaded Mamady Sidibe up front.

King said: "All my concentration is on Saturday because I know I'm playing. I just want to do well Saturday.

"The fans have been excellent. Even through the spell when I was inside (prison) I received letters and great support. Everyone has been brilliant."

King’s inclusion, after two appearances as substitute, is certain to alert Nottingham Forest who have lodged a £1 million bid.

Although Hessenthaler has dismissed the story as “newspaper speculation,” sources in Nottingham this week insisted Forest manager Paul Hart will persist in his pursuit of King, despite this week’s signing of Gareth Taylor from Burnley.

The Forest boss sees King as the perfect replacement for Marlon Harewood whose contract is up at the end of the season and is wanted by Leeds. King has a year and a half of his contract to run.

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally will discuss the matter with Hessenthaler on his return from holiday at the weekend.

A stumbling block to completing the deal could be the 20 per cent sell-on clause inserted in the deal when Gillingham paid Barnet £250,000 for King in June, 2000.

Hessenthaler, meanwhile, must decide whether to return to the starting line-up against his former club or put himself on the bench after pulling a hamstring at Cambridge on August 13.

With Mark Saunders out with a shin injury, the manager’s midfield options are seriously depleted, though he looks certain to start on the bench.

Hessenthaler added: “What’s important is that we get the Burnley defeat out of our system.

“Watford have lost three on the bounce, just as Burnley had when they came to us on Monday. What we have to do is get back to defending the way we did at Bradford.”

n Gillingham are rumoured to be interested in French goalkeeper Bertram Bossu who has been playing for Ryman League, Premier Division Hayes. He is expected to play for the reserves on Tuesday against Queens Park Rangers.