ANDY Hessenthaler has spent the week in hospital after suffering an horrific leg injury at Bournemouth last Saturday.

But the player-boss still plans to add his leadership qualities to Gillingham's efforts to beat Burnley tomorrow -- albeit from the sanctuary of the stand.

Hessenthaler sustained a nasty gash just below the knee in helping his side to a 3-2 FA Cup win at Dean Court.

He was immediately taken to Poole General Hospital before a mid-week transfer nearer home.

However, the 35-year-old couldn't have the injury stitched until it had been flushed out a number of times to reduce the risk of infection.

Staff Richard Hill and Wayne Jones have therefore prepared the side for the Clarets' visit, although Hessenthaler intends to play his part.

"I'm hoping to be at the game on Saturday. If I come out by the end of the week and as long as I can get about on crutches I will be there having some input and I'm looking forward to it," he said.

His presence should give the Gills a lift at the end of a difficult week for the club. But his energy and dynamism in midfield will be sorely missed.

Hessenthaler has led from the front since replacing Peter Taylor as manager in the summer and he was on the scoresheet again last Saturday before disaster struck.

"At the time I didn't think too much of it until I looked down and realised how bad it was.

"He just cut across me but there's no blame on the player. It was a 50-50 challenge and one of those things," said the former Watford man.

Damage to the knee joint or a broken bone could have put a question mark against Hessenthaler's future playing career.

But he has no plans to concentrate solely on management just yet as he looks to consolidate the First Division place the Gills secured for the first time in their history at Wembley in May.

"It could have been a lot worse and let's hope that in five or six weeks I could be back playing.

"I still want to play on and as long as there are no complications with the healing I'm sure that will be the case in the next few weeks," he added.

Hessenthaler's side, eight points and three positions worse off than 10th-placed Burnley, go into tomorrow's game on the back of a five-match unbeaten run.

And while Hessenthaler and central defender Guy Butters miss out through injury, the home side should be boosted by the return of leading scorer Carl Asaba.

The pacey Asaba is well thought of at Burnley but manager Stan Ternent is out to stop him adding to his 11-goal tally.

Burnley have been shipping too many goals for the manager's liking in recent games and defensive improvements have been top of the agenda in training this week.

Ternent said: "We haven't had a clean sheet for a while. We need to get back to that. With an odd goal here or there you've always got a chance. But when you've got to score three to win at home you're asking too much.

"It's a collective thing. We created a lot of chances last week but defensively we've been a bit naive so we've been working on that this week and we'll sort that out good style.

"They are a tough side and a well organised side but we will be ready."

The manager admits that confidence has been hit by a five-game losing run in the League.

But he is philosophical about the dip in fortunes in the absence of a clutch of key players and is hoping that last Saturday's FA Cup escape against Scunthorpe could prove a turning point.

Ternent added: "It's my job to try and instil the confidence in them and give them the freedom to play, which I try and do."

"But from time to time during the course of seasons you're bound to have a bit of a bad spell, unless of course you're Manchester United.

"Preston are going through a similar situation to ourselves, certainly Watford have been through it and at the start of the season it took Blackburn a bit of time to get up and running. It happens to everyone.

"I didn't expect to lose five games back-to-back but it's happened. How you respond to it is of a great importance and the players have had a go.

"We will turn it round. It will happen, don't worry about that. We'll be all right. When it happens I'm not sure, but I hope it's on Saturday."