ALBERTO De las Heras has ended his trial at Southend United and has returned home to Spain.

The 26-year-old midfielder trained with the Shrimpers in Malaga last week and was due to line up for them at Billericay Town last night.

But he opted to head back to Spain before the game kicked off at New Lodge.

“Alberto has decided to return home to Spain after feeling isolated over here,” confirmed Blues boss Phil Brown.

“He found it hard to settle and I got a text at lunchtime on Tuesday to let me know he had booked a flight home.

“When we were out in Spain he was able to bounce off people out there who spoke English and Spanish and that really helped him.

“He could speak a bit of our language but when he was over here on his own I think he found it really hard.

“We obviously all spoke to him and did our best to make him feel a part of things here but he decided to go back to Spain which he’s perfectly entitled to do.

“It was a shame we didn’t get to see him in a game because he could certainly play but I respect his decision and wish him well for the future.”