SAM Newson admitted he was “gutted” after a knee injury sustained on Saturday wrecked the non-league striker’s scheduled trial with Gillingham.

The Needham Market hot-shot was due to travel to Kent yesterday to spend four days training with the League Two side starting today.

But the 23-year-old injured his left knee in a 75th minute collision with visiting goalkeeper Tim Roberts as Ryman League Division One North leaders Needham suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Chatham Town.

Newson, who has bagged 29 goals so far this season, was treated on the pitch for three minutes before being carried off on a stretcher and later left the ground on crutches.

He said yesterday: “All I remember is that Deakan Napier played the ball through and I thought that I am not going to reach it but I had to go for it.

“I don’t think it was a bad challenge - it was 90-10 in favour of their keeper winning the ball - but in the heat of the moment and wanting to win the game I went for it. It didn’t help that the impact sent me somersaulting through the air.

“I am still in a lot of pain and my knee is the size of a small child’s head. I am icing it to get the swelling down, but I have just got to be patient.”

Andy Gould, Needham’s director of football, contacted Gillingham on Saturday evening to inform them that Newson had been injured and that he would not be able to go on trial with the Kent club.

Newson, who should know the full extent of the injury once the swelling has gone down, admitted: “I am really gutted to be fair. It would have been a great opportunity for me, but obviously I am unable to go for the trial now.

“Players getting injuries is part and parcel of football, but I have got to get over the injury and make sure that I come back stronger.

Newson thanked everyone for the support he had received and said: “I have had so many tweets from Gillingham fans wishing me well and saying they hope I get better soon so that I can go down there on trial in the near future.

“I am just hoping that Gillingham will give me another chance at another time when I am fully fit again.”

Needham Market Danny Laws, while pleased for his striker that he had been offered a trial, said that it had turned into “one big sideshow” since Gillingham had made their move.

After seeing his side lose on Saturday Laws said: “I don’t think it is a coincidence that Sam has not scored in the last three games. He was not very good at Harlow last Tuesday, although he was honest today, which he proved with the challenge he went in for when he got injured.

“However, this sideshow is something we can do without at the present time.”