Michael Richardson has been offered the chance to extend his stay at Gillingham and boss Martin Allen will be hoping he accepts.

The young Newcastle United player (right) has appeared twice for the Gills since signing on loan from the Premier League club a month ago.

His Gills debut came last week, as a second half substitute against Plymouth, having being an unusued sub in the previous four matches.

On Tuesday he was not included in the matchday squad but then came in on Saturday, against Morecambe, and played the first 45 minutes.

And although his appearances have been brief, Allen is hoping he stays on at Priestfield.

"I will have a chat with him," he said. "I want to keep him. I think he is a great lad and he works hard.

"I thought he played well (on Saturday). If we had been winning I would have kept him on but we needed to chase a goal and there was no better time than at half-time to (make the change).

"I hope he wants to stay with us. I think it will be good for him. I always knew he would be playing in this game, with four games in 10 days I knew I was going to be rotating those midfield players because of the running they have to do and with the way we play,

"I am hoping he can stay and I will have a chat with his mum and dad as well and work out what are going to do."