Gillingham youngsters Logan Dobbs, Conor McManus and Harry Waldock have all thrived since taking the shirt from injured senior pros

Gillingham’s youngsters are making such an impression that some of the club’s senior players could find it difficult to win their shirts back.

Manager Gareth Ainsworth has been forced to turn to his younger players because of injuries but has been delighted with the way they have seized their opportunities.

Harry Waldock and Logan Dobbs are among those to have stepped up, while Jack Daley, on loan from Middlesbrough, summer signing Sheldon Kendall and Nottingham Forest loanee Lamin Sillah have also boosted the options available to Ainsworth.

Conor McManus has taken over the left wing-back role since Kadeem Harris suffered an ACL injury.

The Gills are also hoping to have 20-year-old midfielder Zane Albarus back from injury soon, while Sam Tabares, 20, and Daley are pushing for places in the starting XI.

It means experienced players including Bradley Dack, Armani Little and Ethan Coleman will face a battle to get into the team when they return from injury.

Ainsworth said: “Everyone wants to play. Everyone wants to be in this team and I’ve got some selection headaches.

“It’s just tough keeping everyone happy.

“We're going to have a hell of a team at some stage because of all the injuries we've got.

“There's no reason why you just suddenly replace them with the experienced ones. The other boys have got to earn their way back into the team.

“We have got some good depth in our team and I'm hoping that when we get to those difficult winter months, chaotic sort of end of the season schedule, we've got enough players to put out a winning team week after week, because this was always the aim, this was always the plan.

“This is definitely my team and what I'm enjoying seeing.”

The Gills still have plenty of experience in the squad