Whitstable Town boss Nicky Southall says young players can make their footballing dreams come true playing in Ryman League, Division 1 South, as Scott Heard prepares for a trial with a Football League side.

Attacking midfielder Heard, 20, has hit form playing a withdrawn role behind strikers Charlie Smith and Matt Martin for the Oystermen in recent weeks and is being lined up for a stint training with League 2 title-chasers Chesterfield next week.

Southall said: “Scott has done well and will miss a couple of games next week as he’s off for a week's trial at Chesterfield.

"He deserves his chance and I hope to goes up there and shows them what he's all about.

"Everyone can see he has raw talent but under me he has begun to show that consistency that you need.

"It's a good opportunity for him and it will help raise the club's profile too.

“We have got a lot of talented young players here and it’s good for them to know that if they work hard and perform well at this level, then people are going to pay attention. They are going to be seen.”

Folkestone Invicta striker Johan Ter Horst, 18, scored at the Belmont in a 1-1 draw at the start of March and this week signed a three-year deal with Premier League side Hull City.

Southall added: “Ter Horst has shown that if you have got the ability, then people will watch you, even at this level.

"Personally I think Scott is ever bit as good as Ter Horst, if not better, though they are different types of players."

Heard made his debut in March 2010 and is Town’s longest-serving player with more than 160 appearances. He attracted the attention of Skrill South side Ebbsfleet in January and was put on contract by Town until the end of 2014/15 as a result.

On the field, Southall faces a selection dilemma as Jake Mackenzie (ankle), Smith (ankle) and Martin (thigh) are doubts for the rearranged visit of Guernsey on Thursday night.

Both players suffered knocks in a 1-0 loss at Chipstead on Tuesday and Southall said: “It looked like we had found the right formula but when you have got to play the number of games we have to, then injuries are going to happen.”

Town visit Corinthian Casuals on Saturday while Hastings head to the Belmont on Tuesday (7.45pm).