By Matthew Panting

Welling striker Andy Pugh spent last week on trial at League 1 Leyton Orient, his manager Jamie Day disclosed on Saturday.

Pugh (pictured), who took his tally for the season to 15 in the FA Trophy draw at Thamesmead at the weekend, trained with Orient for two days and played in a practice match against Premier League Norwich.

The two clubs never agreed a fee and Orient decided on Thursday not to make a move for Pugh, although boss Russell Slade is expected to watch Pugh in action for Welling next month.

Day was surprised that Orient turned down the chance to sign Pugh after he impressed them while playing for the Wings.

“If I want a player I know instantly if I want him or not,” said Day. “They watched him three times and they’ve had reports on him and they were still not 100 per cent.”

“For me him having a trial at Orient benefits us, he scored again at Thamesmead, and if he keeps scoring then someone will take him.”

Day did insist, however, that Pugh will not be allowed to go out on trial anymore and has urged Football League clubs that they will have to judge Pugh on his goals for Welling.

“I don’t think there’s any point him going out on trial again,” said Day. “He has 15 goals this year and clubs know what he can do. If clubs watch him on a Saturday for us and still can’t make their mind up then there is no point him going on trial.

“We did it for him this time but i think we’ve learnt from it and won’t do it again.

“His game has improved massively in the year and a half that he has been here but someone else has to share that opinion. He has had a trial at Orient and got into the England standby squad in the past few weeks so if I was him I’d use that to my advantage.”