Mark Stimson will give Michael Burns and Leslie Thompson another week to impress.

The pair had a difficult first match against Birmingham but the Gillingham manager is prepared to let them have a little longer to show what they can do.

Burns, 19, joined on a week’s trial while Thompson, who is a year older, was released by the Trotters last season and will also spend another week with the Gills.

“You want to give people opportunities,” said Stimson. “The boy who played on the right, Leslie, has only been in twice but he started today because Nicky Southall was out and Ali John is injured. Dennis Oli was carrying a knock and if injuries had of gone okay I probably wouldn’t have used him.

“It was hard for him and the opposition was hard. Michael did okay on the left hand side but he wants to be in the middle of the pitch rather than on the outside.”