Pacy young forward Rene Rivera will get a chance to impress when Hythe Town start their pre-season friendlies next week.

The former Whitstable and Deal player is one of the trialists Cannons boss Tim Dixon is looking at with a view to signing for the new Ryman League season.

Rivera will be in the Hythe squad on Tuesday for an under-21/trial game against Kennington on a 3G pitch in Ashford.

Dixon said: "I’m excited. We’ve got a chance to look at him in a couple of pre-season friendlies. He’s got something different, a little bit of pace.

"He can play up front but because he’s quick, people have used him on the wing in the
past. We’ll have a look at him in various positions. He’s an exciting player but it’s early days for him and he played at Kent League standard last year (for Deal).

"I’ve watched him a couple of times and he did well so we’re going to have a look at him. I’ve known about Rene for a couple of years.

"He played one game for me at Ramsgate, a trial match, when he’d just turned 16.

"He’s got plenty to learn and by no means is he the finished article but I think he’s good enough for this level. He knows where the goal is because I’ve seen him score.

"Being a young lad, he’s raw, very green so we’ve got to be careful but we’ve given him an opportunity and I hope he takes it."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.