Trialist Fabio Ferreira in action for Gillingham on Tuesday Pic: Chris Davey

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler has played down the possibility of latest trialist Fabio Ferreira joining the club.

The 21-year-old winger has recently been released by Chelsea and he made a bright showing in Tuesday night’s pre-season game against Faversham.

Hessenthaler’s budget is already stretched, however, and that could stop the Gills boss taking his interest any further.

He said: "He was thrown at us and he plays on the right side which is where we haven’t got a lot of cover. He’s had four years at Chelsea and they signed him from Sporting Lisbon so he has a decent bit of pedigree. They have let him go and he’s looking for a club."

The Gills boss is already primed to hand Stanley Aborah a deal, having been impressed with him in pre-season, and admitted the quality available to him is making his life awkward.

"I shouldn’t keep inviting them in," he joked. "The chairman keeps saying no more, no more! He did well and he should do well (against Faversham). I’m not sure about that one."

The trialist should have got on the scoresheet but his goal-bound effort was stopped on the line by defender Michael Dodsworth with his hands. It resulted in a red card for the Faversham player.

Ferreira, a former Portuguese under-19 player, started out in the Sporting Lisbon youth team before moving to Chelsea in 2005. He signed professional terms with Chelsea in the 2007-08 season but was restricted to the reserves.

His one-and-only senior appearance in England came during a loan spell with Oldham in March 2009 as a second half substitute against Cheltenham. He also spent time with Portuguese side Esmoriz and made 19 appearances.

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