Hampton & Richmond Borough striker Dan Thompson could be bound for Premier League Stoke City having spent the past two weeks at the Potteries.

The 17-year-old, who became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer last season when he found the net against Woking in February, has been on trial at the Britannia Stadium.

Chairman Steve McPherson revealed in July that a number of Football League scouts – including Swindon Town – had cast their eye over the youngster during pre-season friendlies with QPR and Brentford.

But boss Mark Harper revealed Thompson has been in the Midlands for much of the past month and, with Stoke having tabled a deal in principle, they head the list of suitors for the former youth team star.

“There is a deal on the table but we have to see how that benefits him as a player and us as a club,” he said.

“It is a huge step for him, but I would think he will just go into their development set-up for the time being if the deal happens.

“Something definitely will happen for him, because there are other clubs still sniffing about.

“If it doesn’t then I have already spoken to his agent and asked if he can come back to us.

“It seems silly that I’m looking to bring some players in on loan, when there is potentially one of our own players available to help.”

Harper is looking to add a couple of loan stars from QPR to his squad ahead of the weekend.

Hampton go in search of a first win of the season, when Weston-Super-Mare visit on Saturday, after last week’s encouraging 1-1 draw at struggling Eastleigh.

Nathan Collier scored his side’s second-half equaliser in a game that could have gone either way after they had slipped behind in the first half.

But Harper, who is under pressure since taking over from Alan Devonshire in the summer, reckons the fighting spirit his men showed has set the benchmark for performance levels.

“The second-half performance is the sort of work rate the lads are going to have to put in to get results,” he added.

“If we can draw our away games and win at home then we will be alright.

“But it is difficult because you get good players who perform one week and disappear the next. There has been a lot of change here and I think it is for the better.”