Gills assistant boss John Schofield believes the young hopefuls at the club are displaying the right mental toughness to succeed.

Gillingham’s development squad players have only just finished their season, having been put on a rigorous training schedule at the club throughout May.

“You have to be right mentally,” said the Gills No.2. “You can be the best footballer in the world but if mentally you are not strong enough to go and get on that ball and demand it then you fall by the wayside.

“Having that mental toughness to go out and perform is massive.”

Schofield and the Gills’ management team, have ensured the young recruits have shown the same commitment as the senior players.

He said: “It is about making sure the lads step up from schoolboy football and up through the youth department and then making sure the training levels go up accordingly.

“A lot of the training that is done for the younger lads is about giving them that mental toughness, coming in at 7.30am in the morning and going out and knowing you have to be in. Mentally you have to be switched on.”