Gills boss Martin Allen insists he’ll use the club’s youngsters if he needs to as the season nears its climax.

Several senior players came through Friday fitness tests which meant the likes of Jake Hessenthaler (pictured) and Devante McKain were not needed for Saturday’s match against Accrington.

Both players had been recalled from their respective loan spells for the weekend.

The Gills boss said: “We haven’t trained all these players just for the fun of it.

“The work has been done because if we do get injuries, we might have to play them in the team. Jake has been playing in the Conference, just one division below and Devante has been playing for Maidenhead, which is only two below. They have not been playing a million miles away.”

Hessenthaler was a regular for Blue Square Bet Premier Tamworth, while McKain has spent several months back at his former club Maidenhead.

“I haven’t got any fear about playing them,” said Allen. “Jake is a good footballer and so is Devante. We’ve also got Romeo (Mahlon) – the right-back – and he is a good footballer and only 17. Sam Muggleton is only 17 and we’ve got (Aaron) Millbank who is just 18. They have all been doing well in the development side.

“We have a good group of young players behind us and they are there for a reason. If they have to play in the team, then they will be fine. It doesn’t worry me.

“I have seen the development squad over the last few months and Mark Patterson (development manager) is doing a good job.

“Seven of that development squad could be put into the team and nobody would know any difference.”