AFC Telford interested in Newcastle's Jordan Johnson

AFC Telford United are to run the rule over prolific Newcastle Town winger Jordan Johnson – with assistant manager Darren Read optimistic they have unearthed a hidden gem.

The 24-year-old will join up with the Bucks when they begin pre-season training behind closed doors at RAF Cosford tomorrow evening.

Johnson scored 22 goals for Newcastle last season as they finished runners-up in the Evo-Stik League division one south, only to miss out on promotion in the play-offs.

A move to Conference Premier newcomers Telford would represent a leap of three divisions for the pacy winger, but Read believes he has the ability to cope.

"We were after him last year," the Bucks' No 2 revealed.

"He's a lad we rate very highly and we feel he can make the step up.

"Last year he was under contract and as he was untried at our level we felt it was a bit too much of a risk offering money for him.

"But we've had him watched all year and he's a lad with limitless potential - a lot of clubs have been monitoring him but he's chosen to come to us to try and win a deal."

Johnson will be one of a number of trialists hoping to impress when the Bucks return to business tomorrow.

Many of their full-time rivals are still on holiday, with near neighbours Kidderminster not beginning their preparations for the 2011-12 campaign until July 4.

But Read said: "Because we're not full-time we're coming in that extra week or 10 days earlier than everyone else just to get a bit of a head-start.

"It also allows us to get some of the trialists in a bit sooner and run the rule over them.

"All the boys were give off-season training plans," he added.

"That means they should be coming in with a good base of fitness and we can get straight on with the fun stuff with the footballs."