Several players will be looking to catch the manager’s eye as Gillingham take on the Royal Engineers on Wednesday night.

The match is part of Gillingham’s celebrations to mark 100 years since deciding to change their name from New Brompton.

For some, including former Millwall striker Ben May, it will be a chance to impress Gills manager Martin Allen.

May is on trial with the Gills and appeared for the development squad at Chatham Town on Sunday.

He has most recently had spells with Scunthorpe, Stevenage and on loan at Barnet. He is now a free agent.

"Ben is training with us because he hasn’t got a club and then we will see how he does," said Allen.

"He played Sunday for Mark Patterson and Darren Hare and they both said he did well. He will train with the first team and we will see how he does on Wednesday.

"It is hard when you are a footballer and you haven’t got a club. Ben did a good job for me at Barnet but he hasn’t got a club to train at. That’s horrible when you are a footballer.

"It’s not all Bentleys and Jacuzzis, so he needs somewhere to train and we are helping him train. If he scores 10 goals then we will sign him."

Gillingham have also been linked with controversial Notts County striker Lee Hughes.

Along with May, fellow trialists Ryan Gilligan and Dean Morgan (pictured for Oxford against the Gills last season) are also expected to feature on Wednesday night, along with the majority of Gills’ first team squad, in a game which kicks off at 7pm.

"It will be great to play at Priestfield and who we are playing doesn’t really matter," said Allen.

"We will just go out and play our stuff and see what we can do. We will make the opposition more than welcome."

Allen’s side took on Dartford on Saturday and he is expected to start with the 11 players who came on as substitutes with 30 minutes left at Princes Park.

"Will take 11 off and put 11 on (after 60 minutes) like we did at Dartford which I have always done," said the Gills boss.

Making his first appearance in goal for the Gills is likely to be Tommy Forecast, who moved on loan to Pristfield as part of the deal that took Paulo Gazzaniga to Southampton.

Forecast met his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday.

"It will be nice to see him," said Allen.

Gillingham fans will be able to purchase special centenary kits this season but as yet they are not in the club shop. The side have been playing their pre-season games in last season’s strip. Read Allen’s thoughts on the kit here.

Picture: Barry Goodwin

What do you make of the players on trial? Comment below.