Ling ponders Thompson bow

Torquay boss Martin Ling may hand a league debut to teenager Niall Thompson when his side host Rochdale.

The 18-year-old impressed Ling in pre-season and the midfielder may taste first-team experience sooner than he expected as the Gulls' injury crisis deepens. Winger Lloyd Macklin is expected to be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a reoccurrence of a knee injury. Damon Lathrope is also expected to miss out whilst Danny Stevens is still struggling with a thigh problem. Saul Halpin remains sidelined after visiting a specialist about his troublesome ankle injury. Regarding Thompson, Ling told BBC Sport: "It may be the case that he's got to play the 90 minutes. In pre-season he did nothing wrong, whenever he went on the pitch he certainly excites, I look at him this year as an impact sub."