Gills boss Justin Edinburgh believes “rough diamond” Emmanuel Osadebe could be making an immediate challenge for a first-team place.

The young all-action midfielder - nicknamed Paddy by the Gills team - was snapped up earlier this summer from Tottenham Hotspur’s foundation college programme.

Osadebe, 18, combined football with Spurs’ youth team and an educational programme at Barnet & Southgate College.

He will now be challenging for a place in Gillingham’s League 1 side and boss Edinburgh is looking forward to seeing how the player copes.

He said: “I think he is a rough diamond and I really think he could be something at the football club.

“We feel he could accelerate into the first team squad as quickly as pre-season.

“He played in a few of our development games last season and impressed everyone, not only me. All of the staff saw him and they were very impressed.”

Edinburgh was made aware of Osadebe’s talent by David Kerslake, who had been working at the north London academy, prior to joining the Gills as assistant manager.

Osadebe became available after Spurs decided against offering him a pro deal.

“He just didn’t quite get a contract with Spurs, although when you speak to the boy he thinks he could have,” Edinburgh said.

“He is confident, but not in an arrogant way. He is really positive and infectious and I am excited about him.

“He is a level-headed boy, he is grounded but he has one ambition and desire, that is to be a professional footballer and I look forward to working with him.

“He has a great appetite for the game. He plays central midfield. I am not going to label him as a certain player, that would be harsh, but he is action packed he really is.”

Reacting to his first Gills appearance, on Tuesday, Edinburgh said: "We have to be cautious with him but we saw he will adapt and acclimatise very quickly.

"The more we can involve him around the first team the quicker he will get up to speed."

Read the Gillingham match report here, from their win at Folkestone, and manager Justin Edinburgh's reaction.