Action from Gillingham's FA Youth Cup tie with Cambridge United at Priestfield on Thursday. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

Premier League scouts are set to attend Thursday night’s FA Youth Cup match to check out Gillingham’s latest young talent.

Gills’ under-18s side take on Cambridge United at Priestfield in the first round match and 16-year-old Ashley Miller will be out to enhance his growing reputation.

Scouts from Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton, Liverpool and Crystal Palace are all set to be watching the match and youth boss Darren Hare knows they are only interested in one player.

“They come on a regular basis and follow him (Miller) around,” said Hare.

“We don’t want to lose him like Luke Freeman in the past and Ashley just wants to play for Gillingham.

“We haven't had an offer for him yet and I don’t know how long that will last.”

The interest could increase significantly after this weekend with first team manager Andy Hessenthaler set to name him on the bench for the trip to Northampton.

Hessenthaler said: “He plays up top and has been setting the place alight recently.

“We may introduce him to the first team this weekend because the kid is a bit special. If you are good enough you are old enough and he excites me.

“I’ve seen him a few times and he’s attracting a bit of attention.”

Gillingham will need to get permission from his school, Dover Grammar, for him to be allowed to play this weekend.

The Dover-based teenager has been playing in Gillingham’s junior ranks since 2003, when he was just eight. He has already signed up on scholarship terms for next season and he’s a youngster Hessenthaler is expecting big things from.

Hessenthaler said: “I’ve seen him progress and he has an effect. He can do something special. He is young but can handle it.

“He’s pretty much got everything and there is no fear for the kid. He would go out there and run and cause teams problems and express himself.

“Even the first team players are aware of him and watch him on the training ground.”

Gillingham have produced some talented players in recent years and in 2008 they sold 15-year-old Luke Freeman to Arsenal for a six-figure fee.

In 2005 Chelsea paid out an initial £125,000 for Ryan Bertrand. Elsewhere former youth player Matt Jarvis is knocking on the door of the England set-up at Premiership Wolves and former youth player Andrew Crofts is currently playing for Championship high-flyers Norwich City.

Hare is hoping this one sticks around for a while yet.

He said: “He’s happy and there is no reason to think he will go elsewhere. As far as we are concerned he is a Gillingham player and that’s how we want it to stay.

“You are better off cutting your teeth at a low league club than you are going somewhere high up, not having a sniff of the first team and getting loaned out left right and centre and doing it that way.”

Gillingham are also set to name youth keeper Daren Hawkes on the bench at Northampton as reserve goalie Lance Cronin injured his foot in training on Thursday.

Hessenthaler said: “I have no fear about putting him in.

“He would be fine. He keeps getting man-of-the-matches with the first team in training so I haven’t a problem with him.”

Meanwhile young defender Conor Essam has joined Bishop’s Stortford on a month’s loan. He is likely to make his debut on Saturday against Dover in the Blue Square Bet South league.