IT is only a matter of time until Liam Nash secures a move to the Football League.

That is the view of former Aveley manager Justin Gardner, who played a key role in the 21-year-old striker’s development.

Nash, from Hullbridge, has been linked with a host of professional clubs in recent weeks, with AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham and Doncaster said to be interested.

Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers are the most recent club linked with the Maldon & Tiptree hitman – who scored 37 goals last season.

And Gardner said he has no doubt the former Billericay Town and Great Wakering Rovers man will secure a move in the future.

“I know he would go professional one day because he is so determined to improve. He is in the gym every day and working hard. He is single-minded and driven. I am not surprised and he will sign one day. He is more powerful now than he was when he was here, he is sharper, more mature and experienced.

“He must have almost 100 Ryman League games under his belt already.”

Gardner, now Billericay Town under-21 boss, gave the confident Nash the captaincy at Aveley when he was just 20-years-old, despite a number of elder statesmen being in the squad.

And Gardner said it proved to be an excellent decision, while admitting he was shocked when Nash requested to be named skipper.

“He is outspoken which can rub others up the wrong way, but I saw it in a slightly positive light,” he said.

“I remember we played Tilbury away and, having been playing him out wide, I put him down the middle. We had just lost our captain to injury and I was going to give the armband to someone else but he asked if he could take it.

“I was shocked and pleased but for three seconds I was like wow, that is either very confident or he has some audacity.

“I spoke to the player I was going to make captain and he had no problem with it although I am not sure how well it went down as we had some senior boys.

“Nashy was outstanding in that game. We won 2-0 having lost four of our last five in the league and were unplayable. So I kept him as captain. He was a good player but his game became more rounded. He was a leader. He earned respect and he was so appreciative that I gave him his chance.”