BURY striker Callum Styles, who made history last May when he became the first player born in the 21st Century to appear in a Football League match, has signed his maiden professional contract with the club.

Styles, who is still only 16, featured on the final day of the season for the Shakers last term and has made a further five appearances for the Gigg Lane club this term, most recently in the 2-1 win at Chesterfield last weekend.

New Bury manager Lee Clark only took over at the club on February 15 but one of his first actions has been to tie down Styles on a deal that runs until the summer of 2019.

Clark said: “He is an unbelievable talent and a very special player.

“I saw him when he came on to the pitch at Chesterfield, and wow – he was awesome.”

  • OUT-OF-FORM Gillingham have signed former Fulham and Queen’s Park Rangers defender Zesh Rehman until the end of the season.

The Gills are without a win in their last 11 league matches to fall within two points of the relegation zone and have made 33-year-old Rehman their second signing of the week, having already brought in midfielder Ollie Muldoon.

Pakistan international Rehman has not play in English football since November 2010 when he left another League One side, Bradford City.

Since leaving the Bantams, Rehman has enjoyed spells in Thailand and Hong Kong and and most recently with Pahang FA in the Malaysian Super League Rehman said: “I’ve spent six years and clocked up over 200 games overseas, so it’s good to be back in England.”

  • GILLINGHAM have also seen a player head out of the Priestfield Stadium with striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas returning to parent club Queen’s Park Rangers after his loan spell was ended early.

Emmanuel-Thomas agreed to spend the 2016-17 season with the Gills back August and has registered 10 goals in 35 appearances for the club.

However, the 26-year-old former Bristol City man has not hit the back of the net since November 26, drawing a blank in his last 11 appearances.

That has left Gillingham boss Ady Pennock, who was appointed by the club back on 4 January, to deem him surplus to requirements as they battle for stave off relegation.

  • AFC WIMBLEDON will have to do without captain Barry Fuller for the remainder of the season after he was ruled out with a pectoral muscle injury.

Defender Fuller joined the Dons ahead of the 2013-14 season and has played more than 180 games for the club.

The 32-year-old picked up the problem during Wimbledon’s 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic back on February 11 and is scheduled to undergo surgery this weekend.

Dons boss Neal Ardley said: “This puts him out for more than a five-month period. Barry is very influential and will be missed.”