The Basque midfielder has featured for the Reds throughout pre-season and has impressed Hinshelwood enough to be part of his plans for the upcoming campaign.

The 26-year-old was a fixture in the Canvey Island side that finished third in Isthmian League Premier Division last season, going on to suffer play-off heartbreak in the form of a semi-final defeat on penalties at the hands of eventual winners Aveley.

Prior to that he had experience of National League South with Concord Rangers.

His career in England begin in 2018 when he signed for Heybridge Swifts following a successful summer trial, an identical pathway taken to English football by Spanish counterpart Joan Luque twelve months earlier.

Born in the very north east of of the Basque country he spent his youth career with his local professional club Real Unión Club Irun, who Aston Villa manager Unai Emery now has a controlling stake in.

Sorondo will hope to shake off an injury suffered in training this week to be available for the season’s curtain raiser against Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.