ADAM BYGRAVE’S loan spell with Gillingham has extended by a further month.

The central defender has made seven starts since joining on loan from Premier League side Reading.

He was left on the bench on Saturday, after getting stuck in traffic before the match, but is expected to be back in the starting eleven on Tuesday against Oldham.

Manager Mark Stimson currently has defensive issues, with Simon King expected to be out for a couple of weeks with a pulled hamstring, while Ian Cox is only just back from his own injury.

Stimson said: “Adam is a good young player and is developing all the time.

"He has a good attitude in training and wants to improve. We are giving him priceless first-team opportunities and I think Reading realise that is a great benefit to the boy.”

Bygrave, 18, said: “I’m learning all the time and the boys are good here at Gillingham. First-team football is vital to my development so it’s a good move for both clubs as well as me personally.”