MERSTHAM manager Hayden Bird has stated that star striker Fabio Saraiva is "not quite ready" for the professional game.
Not that the Moatside boss doubts his front man can make it.
Bird believes Saraiva has all the attributes to become a professional player, just not quite yet.
He said: "Fabio is a player who's regarded very highly by me, however, it's easy to forget that he's a very young man and with all youngsters their only consistency is their inconsistency.
"In order for Fabio to move up to the next level he needs to consistently perform to show everyone that he's a cut above this level that he's playing at currently.
"He's got to improve, but I don't doubt that potentially he's capable of playing professionally, but maybe he's not quite ready yet."
Saraiva went on trial with Championship side Charlton Athletic in pre-season, but it didn't work out, with the forward telling the Surrey Mirror that becoming a professional meant everything to him.
He said then: "A professional footballer is all I've ever wanted to be, there is no 'plan b' for me. To be a professional footballer would just be my dream come true."
Since then though, Bird has revealed there have been no other approaches for Saraiva or any of his other players, though the manager is doing what he can to boost their image.
He added: "This is a very young man, he's only 19, but he's a talented young man and he's got everything ahead of him.
"He's just got to keep working hard and I'm sure he will get there.
"Scouts come along and whether they are coming to see Fabio or other players in the team I don't know but there's been no interest in anybody.
"I have spoken to clubs about it in order to help him out and invited clubs to come and watch him, but there's a lot of Fabios out there.
"He's got to realise that if he really wants to be a professional footballer, there's only a few that get that opportunity and when he gets it he's got to show he's capable of being a cut above the rest. If he continues to show the attitude and application then who knows?"