Martin Allen admitted he may not be Mr Popular with the Gillingham youth players but is prepared to reward them for their hard work.

The Gills boss has recently trimmed the first-team squad and may need to call on some of the club’s youngsters. He and the management team are preparing them just incase.

Allen (pictured) said: “Kids can play at this level, there is no doubt about it, we have pushed them really hard and we have trained them like Royal Marines for the last three months, so they can go in and play.

“The train here (at the club) every day at 7.30am. They have been absolutely smashed into the ground just incase I need them before the end of the season. I don’t think they really like me but the rewards are to be involved in men’s football, double double quick. I may need them and they will need to be physically ready.

“I don’t think they like me but recently we had a 17-year-old on the bench, Sam Muggleton.

“They could go in and play but when you are top two the games are different. It’s a different mentality, a different feeling and these boys need a bit of time and that’s why we have absolutely hammered them.

“Hopefully one, two or three of them might come in before the end of the season and fill some gaps.”