Saffron Walden Town's attacking midfielder Scott Forbes is hoping to become the latest Essex Senior League part-timer to make the jump into professional football - with Southend United.

A host of players from the Essex feeder league have gone on to make the grade in recent seasons, including Stansted's Gary Hart, who sunk Blues with a controversial goal for his current club Brighton two weeks ago.

However, Forbes has found his inspiration a bit closer to home and is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his former Saffron Walden team-mate - Stuart Wardley - who is currently scoring goals for fun at First Division Queens Park Rangers.

"Scott is desperate for a crack at the big time," said Blues chief Alan Little, who is expected to hand Forbes a run-out at Roots Hall reserve outing against Swindon Town.

"He's a good little player, who has great skill and an immense hunger for the game and we will see how things progress before deciding if we want to take things any further.

"But Scott's trained with us a couple of times and was given half-a-game in our second-string win at Oxford United a few weeks ago and certainly didn't look out of place."

Forbes certainly knows where the goal is, which he proved by cracking a hat-trick in Saffron Walden's recent 8-0 annihilation of Hullbridge Sports.

And Peter Rule, secretary of the Essex Senior League table-toppers, certainly believes the left-sided midfielder has what it takes to go all the way.

"Scott's an excellent young player who certainly has the attributes to make it in the professional game," he confirmed.

"He joined us from Braintree and was put straight under contract, which shows just how highly we value him."

With Essex blessed by a wealth of top semi-professional sides, Little believes Blues should be looking at more players on the non-league circuit.

"We need to look at the talent currently sitting on our own doorstep because there are players on the local non-league scene who can make the jump into full-time football successfully," he added.

"Essex has a lot of semi-professional teams, which are doing well in their respective competitions, and it is important that Southend United makes contact with these clubs, not just for scouting purposes, but also to forge links and friendships."

Southend's 21-year-old defender Chris Perkins has rejoined Conference League side Kettering Town, who he enjoyed a temporary spell with earlier this term, on loan for the rest of the season.

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