Teenager Harry Webster made his Football League debut on Saturday and the Gillingham manager highlighted the defender’s qualities after the match.

Earlier this season the Gills handed Webster his first professional contract, on a deal until the summer of 2027 with the option of another year, a move that the club hope is a new way forward in a bid to give their promising young players time to prove their worth.

Webster, who had previously played a couple of games for Gillingham in the EFL Trophy, came in for Remaeo Hutton on Saturday in a physical battle against Salford and held his own.

He was one of several changes to the team that Bonner made following back-to-back league defeats.

“I could have made 11 (changes) from the other day,” admitted the Gills boss.

“I think I made five to the starting team. No-one can really have a complaint. Part of that was just to spark a reaction in the whole group.

“Some were probably fortunate to go again. Some may [have been] unfortunate but it depends on where you've got the cover and who you can play where.

“I think the positions that we changed were valid ones. We changed to a back four, we played 4-4-2.

“We haven't got the most athletic team in order to go and press really high in the game, so we sat a little bit deeper at times and tried to break on that. It made the game a little bit more of a patient game.

“We also knew we needed to protect the full-backs because the two wide players for them, two wing-backs for them, very athletic, excellent dribblers.

“Didn't he (Webster) defend well against them? His one v one defending was great.

“He had moments in the game that he'll look back and think: ‘Oh, I might have done that better’ but what I like about him is he defends with intensity. He's good one v one against dribblers.

“He gives you everything he's got and his mistakes are honest ones. I think everyone forgives that from your players and we needed that. He gave us that.

“I'm really pleased with him and he becomes a good option in our team for us.”