Gills manager Martin Allen will be hoping extra rest will give his squad a boost ahead of the weekend.

Allen's side are unbeaten in League 2 this season and face Rochdale at Priestfield on Saturday.

The Gills first team were given Monday off by boss Allen (pictured) and some of his more experienced players were also away on Tuesday.

With Wednesday being the players’ traditional day off Allen is looking forward to getting his full squad back together on Thursday.

Allen said: "I gave some of the senior players, Adam Barrett, Deon Burton and David Wright, time off to rest.

"Robbie Findley is coming back down from Nottingham on Wednesday to train Thursday and by then all of our squad will be back and ready for 48 hours of preparation for what is another big week for our club."

Allen took the opportunity on Monday to work with some of the first team’s fringe players.

He said: "All of the first team players had Monday off this week, so it was nice for me to take training with the development squad along with Mark Patterson.

"I was able to train them. The development squad all trained with the first team squad on Tuesday, which was good, and that was great but I am not sure Monday was good for them though because I took them for a hard training session but the lads responded well."

And for some of the development squad they could soon be heading out on loan for first team football.

"We are hoping they can get out on loan," said Allen.

"But that’s something Andy Hesenthaler (director of football) is working on."

Among the players who did train on Monday was Jack Payne. He has been missing with a groin injury.

"He trained very hard with the development squad but he needs a bit more strengthening work on his groin and we will see how he is on Thursday," said Allen.