Gillingham boss Mark Stimson will be taking an extra interest in his young defenders during today’s reserve outing at Aldershot.

Stimson (pictured) is light on central defenders in his first-team squad and he’ll be hoping youth players Callum Davies and Connor Essam can rise to the challenge and give him extra options.

With the transfer window shut Stimson has no other alternative but to look at what he has available in the youth ranks.

Neither Davies or Essam have played for the first team but one of them could find themselves on the bench to face League 1 giants Leeds on Saturday.

The Combination League fixture against The Shots at The Recreation Ground kicks off at 2pm.

Fringe first-team players Jack Payne, James Walker and Rashid Yussuff are also likely to appear for the Gills.