Gillingham have opted to keep hold of promising young forward Jayden Clarke despite plenty of interest.

The Gills have yet to use January signing Clarke in a competitive fixture - aside for a Kent Senior Cup match at Tonbridge - but believe the 22-year-old will be better off at Priestfield rather than heading out on loan.

National League clubs had until 5pm on Thursday to make any additions.

Clarke joined the Gills from Dulwich Hamlet on January 19.

Boss Neil Harris said: “Jayden is staying with us. Offers have come in for Jayden, yes, interest of course, not just because he is a good player but he has experience on the non-league scene.

“Jayden has had a very good upbringing at Spurs, come through a very good academy, he has come out of that scenario and into non-league for a few years and we just feel that being with us every day will develop Jayden.

“His opportunity might come with us between now and the end of the season, he might be very close between now and then. He is certainty one we like and will work with between now and the end of the season.”

Getting used to full-time football with the Gills and being around the matchday squads will be a benefit to the player, even if not playing.

“Sometimes it is about letting them find a rhythm,” Harris added. “Jayden comes into all the meetings we hold, pre and post-match.

"He is always developing and gym programmes are really important for all lads and certainly between 20-24, he is developing all the time in that.

“Jayden has had a lot of football in the last 18 months and it might be better for his development to stay with us between now and the end of the season.”

Gills had other enquiries for players too. Ethan Coleman is another on the fringes.

Harris said: “Some we have declined because we want them to stay with us as they are in the plans, some of the players might have declined because they didn’t fancy a change of scenery at the moment.

“I have a squad to pick from and rotate when needed.”

Striker Scott Kashket has had some interest too but is currently injured.

“He is getting closer,” Harris said of the striker, speaking before the deadline. “We certainly have had a lot of interest in him from the National League to go, which we would have facilitated if he had wanted to, it doesn’t help that he isn’t 100% fit at the moment.

"Scott will certainly have one eye on next season being fit for pre-season wherever he ends up.”

On the lads not quite in the playing group, Harris said: “Stu (O’Keefe) was one of the best players on the training pitch today (Thursday), leading by example, Lewis Page is desperate to play and Hakeeb Adelakun is extremely disappointed he is not getting a look-in.

"I left (goalkeeper) Jake Turner off the bench the other night and he has been exceptional when he has had his opportunities.”

Released winger Callum Harriott, meanwhile, has found a new club. He’s joined National League Yeovil Town. He played a couple of games for the Gills before leaving recently.

*Isthmian South East side Sheppey United have signed Gills youth player Matty MacArthur on a work experience loan.

The young Aussie was involved in the Gillingham first team during the summer, impressing during pre-season and making the League 2 squad as an unused substitute twice during the early weeks of the campaign. He has previously been on loan at Margate.

Sheppey already have Gills youth player Sam Gale at the club on loan.