Money could be the only thing standing between St Albans City signing former Hemel Hempstead midfielder Luke Allen.

The 22-year-old has been on trial with the Saints since the start of pre-season and had his best game in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Barnet. Allen linked up brilliantly with Sam Corcoran in the middle of the park and he was involved in every positive attacking move. He set up Michael Malcolm for the Saints’ second goal and could have had one himself if not for Kai McKenzie-Lyle’s intervention.

After the game, joint manager James Gray said both parties wanted to get a deal done.

“Yes, we’re interested in signing him and I know for a fact that he wants to come here. It’s a case of if we can do something then we’ll do it in the next couple of weeks. We’ll sit down with him soon,” he said.

“We’re monitoring him at the minute and trying to work within a budget. He’s been down with us since the first day of pre-season and he’s done really well. He’s got good energy, a good touch, wants to score goals and will defend.”

Any move may have to wait until the management team begin to thin the number of players down to something that will resemble this season’s squad. That will be soon, admitted Gray.

“The squad will have to come down. We can’t keep everyone around - we can’t afford that,” he said.

“The lads that are not involved with the 16 to 18 won’t want to be here anyway; they want to play football.”