JOHN Coventry has backed Tom Wraight to be a key figure for East Thurrock United this season, after he failed to win a contract after a trial at Gillingham.

The 21-year-old winger had spent the previous three weeks with the League One club, training every day and playing in pre-season matches against Concord Rangers and Billericay Town.

Wraight also made the squad for Gillingham’s pre-season trip to Le Touquet, in France, earlier this month along with several other hopefuls and the majority of the first-team squad.

However, Wraight, who has also trialled with Ipswich Town in the past, was told at the end of last week that he hadn’t made the cut and he will now complete pre-season with Rocks.

And Coventry believes the man who scored 22 goals last term will again prove his quality this season, despite the knock-back, in the National League South.

“For any young player that gets that opportunity and it doesn’t come off it must be hard to take,” said Coventry. “He has had a few knock backs but he must take the view that he gets identified and gets asked to come to these things.

“I don’t know exactly what professional clubs are looking for but I suppose it is something a bit different or special. One thing I don’t have to worry about is his fitness.

“He didn’t play last weekend or against Aveley on Tuesday as I knew, mentally, he would be drained.

“Training full-time is hard work and the body takes a while to adapt to it. He may have hit a brick wall after that.

Being selfish it is great to have someone of his ability in his squad but I don’t want people to think I am happy it hasn’t worked out as we are not like that here. It wasn’t a ‘great, he is back with us’ as he wants to be a professional. He is a great lad and a very good footballer.

“And if he keeps playing well, who is to say another professional club wouldn’t see him and he could get another crack.”