SOME of the county’s rising young footballers are gathering attraction from a number of clubs.

Carlos Moreira, who has been a big hit for Hereford United in the Community (UITC), spent last week at Coventry City.

UITC coach Rob Purdie said City want to offer him a youth team deal, but his education is currently a stumbling block.

“They hope to sort that out, but at the moment, he is still with us,”said Purdie.

“Obviously we would want to keep him, but you cannot turn down the chance to play at a club like Coventry.”

Purdie confirmed that captain Joe Davies is set to sign for Wellington once he has recovered from a foot injury and Lewis Fletcher could link up with a Southern Football League Division 1 outfit. And under-16 goalkeeper James Aurelius has attracted the attention of Walsall and Shrewsbury Town after spending a few days at Leicester City.

“We’ve also had contact from Fulham who want one of our under-15s to go down for a trial,” said Purdie.

“We would like them to play for a side in Hereford, but you cannot turn these chances down."

UITC are fifth in the PLFL Under-18 Development League Midlands and South West Division, but have games in hand on all of the sides above them.

Last week, goals from Alex Lilwall, Moreira and Will Lawley saw Purdie’s side overcome Chelsea (Dartmoor) 3-1.

Their opponents have links with the Premier League giants, but Purdie said it was not the strongest of Chelsea teams.

“However they did draw against Burton, who are top, so we knew it would be tough, but we played well,” said Purdie.

“In the first half we had the wind behind us and they never had a shot.

“We then dominated the second half and they only had one shot on target from which they scored from.

“We were massively on top though and were probably too comfortable because we took our foot off the gas near the end.”

Purdie believes the team could finish in the top three in the 11-team league.

“I said to the lads that the bare minimum is top four, but I want to finish in the top three.”