SPANISH winger Lander Gabilondo is on trial at Swindon, while boss Paolo Di Canio remains determined to sign a new striker before the end of the month.

Gabilondo, 24, arrived at the club earlier this week and Di Canio will run the rule over the former Osasuna player in the coming days.

Di Canio has already brought in 12 players but with Etienne Esajas currently injured, Town are short of cover in the wing positions.

Gabilondo was formerly on the books of Real Sociedad but failed to break into the first team and opted to join Osasuna, where he was playing for the club’s reserve side in the lower leagues of Spanish football.

“We have a Spanish wing player here,” said Di Canio. “I want to check him out properly because he has good quality and technique and he can play left or right position.

“We will keep him here for the next two or three days because (tonight) we play Bristol City so we won’t get a proper chance to look at him until Wednesday and Thursday. Those days we will have a good chance to look at him because we will have a tactical session.”

A tall, physical striker remains Di Canio’s priority and the Town boss is determined to bring one in before the transfer window shuts at the end of this month.

The Advertiser understands that a former international striker, who was recently playing in Europe, had been scheduled to arrive in Swindon on Sunday but ultimately did not travel.

Wilko Risser, brother of Town captain Oliver, is still training with the club and Di Canio has not ruled out offering the Namibia international a deal.

But his main target remains a player who he believes is capable of reaching double figues in League Two.

“It is difficult but I won’t give up and this month I absolutely have to sign a striker. Without another striker we will have big problems,” continued Di Canio.

“The first game (against Crewe) was very good but we cannot play over 46 games this season with only Raffa De Vita, Billy Bodin and Alan Connell.

“The players we have are all very good but they are only one size and in this league it is not easy.

“We need a different size player who is an animal and can run, hold the ball and score goals.

“We don’t have a natural goalscorer so we need someone who has a good level of scoring and can maybe score 16, 18 or 20 goals this season.

“We will do everything to bring in another striker, maybe two.”

Di Canio also revealed that he has ended his interest in the versatile player who could cover anywhere down the left or right of the pitch. The player in question, who is Italian, attended Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Crewe at the County Ground, but Di Canio has confirmed he will not be taking his interest any further.

“I met him after the game on Saturday,” he said. “He was excited and he said he would like to come but I had some doubt because he is not really fit and I don’t want to make a mistake and waste the club’s money.

“Even if we spend just £20 I want to be sure because if I am not sure it is not good for the club.”