Gillingham kick off their pre-season campaign with a double header this weekend - and boss Martin Allen has challenged some of the club’s youngsters to stake their claim early.

Allen won’t be frightened to use the club’s homegrown players in League 1 next season when the Gills compete at a higher level.

He said: “Sometimes you have to give the youngsters a chance. We will see who is going to grasp the opportunity when it comes. When I got here last season, there were 20-year-olds who had hardly played a game. We just need to chuck them in earlier and let them get on with it.

“We have this academy system (in our country), playing under-21 football and I don’t agree with it at all. It is a big step backwards. That’s why our 18-year-olds last season played half the season in our reserve team/development squad.

“It is tough, tough work but hopefully now, through pre-season, some of them will get chances in the games we play and we will see how they stand up to it."

The Gills face Faversham on Saturday at 1pm at Salters Lane and another team visit Ashford United for a 3pm kick-off.

Allen is expected to watch both games. He said: “We will have four different teams. Eleven will play the first half, 11 the second half and that will also happen in the second game. I will get to see 44 players."