Gillingham manager John Coleman leads the praise for defender Sam Gale after a man-of-the-match performance against Crewe Alexandra

Gillingham manager John Coleman expects the scouts to start flocking to Priestfield if their young defender continues playing the way he is.

Central defender Sam Gale picked up the man-of-the-match champagne on Saturday after another eye-catching display.

Gale should have scored for the Gills but made sure Crewe were kept out at the other end - winding himself while getting his body behind a Matus Holicek shot during an entertaining second half, in a rare foray forward for the visitors.

“He should have scored,” said Coleman, first starters. “Let's get that straight, it's a sitter.

“I've said for a long time I'm a big fan of Sam Gale. I said on Thursday he will definitely captain this club, baring a remarkable incident that happens, I can't see him not captaining the club.

“The only way I can see him not captaining the club is if he gets a really good move to a really big club. That's not saying we're not a really big club, but we're a League Two club.

“You don't get many young centre-halves who have got his appetite for the game. He's still got to tidy up on a few things, but if he keeps on going, this place will be rammed with scouts every week between now and the end of the season.

“The good thing about us and our situation is we've tied them down for the deal that will see us get good money for him if he does get sold.

“I don't want to sell him, I want him heading it and kicking it and doing what he does (for us).

“The good thing about him that a lot of centre-halves haven’t got is his pace and pace covers a multitude of sins.

“Don't forget he's only a kid and he will get better as the game progresses through this season.”

Earlier this month Gale signed a new deal at the Gills, securing him on a contract until the