by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Martin Allen saluted his most senior player, Deon Burton, after his class finish at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Burton, pictured, volleyed home a minute before half-time to double Gillingham’s lead as Allen’s men retained top spot in League 2 with a 2-0 win.

And Allen praised the 36-year-old striker – who took his goal tally into double figures – for keeping in top shape.

Allen said: "He has been a fantastic professional and we’ve got these men that have had such good footballing careers.

"Deon has played in the World Cup and the Premier League and looks after himself. He doesn’t train on the pitch as much as others do. Adam Barrett is exactly the same. They are top professionals

"They are not playing around here. They haven’t come to Gillingham to get a few quid at the end of their careers. Deon is a great example of the type of people we want to represent our club.

"Don’t come here and have a holiday, come here and let’s crack on and do it."