Martin Allen hopes to have a clearer indication of who could start Gillingham’s League 2 programme following this weekend’s trip to Ebbsfleet.

The Gills boss has had three weeks in the job and with a handful of pre-season games behind him, he is beginning to think toward next month’s season opener.

Allen (pictured) said: "We have had a good look at everyone and by Friday lunchtime, I need to make some decisions as to who will play on Saturday and I need to start bedding stuff down.

"You might see some semblance of what might happen and what we are thinking when we go to Ebbsfleet."

Allen arrived at the Gills with an open mind, meaning everyone has started with a clean slate.

"If they play well they will go in," he stated. "The players know that.

"We had a little kid from the youth team, Bradley Dack. Where the hell has he come from?

"He came into training and didn’t stop scoring, so we put him into the
team.

"It doesn’t matter if senior players aren’t happy. We will put in the players who will try and win us some points, that’s the same from the goalkeeper to the centre forward.

"We need to incorporate the young players and bring them along as well. It’s not just Dack, there have been a couple of others who have been sharp as well.

"Some will go out on loan to play non-league football, in front of a crowd on a Saturday afternoon where it matters against men in the real
world.

"We will get them back at Christmas and review their situations. That is part of the plan."

Whether Dack is part of that plan remains uncertain as he continues to knock on the first-team door.

"It’s a tough one," said Allen, of the third year scholar. "He got 26 goals for the youth team from midfield and scored against Dagenham.

"He nearly scored against Dartford, so it’s a tough one. I am not sure we should get rid of him.”

Dack hit four in a 10-minute spell for the Gills on Wednesday night.