The £2 million-rated left back from AC Milan will not be figuring in Wanderers' David v Goliath clash with Premiership leaders Newcastle on Saturday.

Gambaro, who is available on a free transfer, isn't fit enough to figure in first team action but his one-month Burnden trial continues with manager Colin Todd suitably impressed by what he has seen so far.

Todd ran the rule over the 28-year-old Italian, who made his Wanderers' debut in last night's 4-2 Pontins League win at West Brom in which he was the unlucky victim of a very harsh penalty decision.

Gambaro showed good touches, two particularly solid tackles and a willingness and pace to make overlapping attacking runs.

Todd said: "I got a good picture of the boy and he certainly has good qualities. He needs more games but that isn't surprising since he hasn't played for some months.

"But I would expect him to improve with every game he plays."

Gambaro's fitness problems arise from the fact that he has had no reserve team opportunities in Milan, where he has been denied first team opportunities by Paolo Maldini - considered the best left back in the world.

Wanderers will now concentrate on improving his fitness and will give him a second reserve team outing at home to Manchester United next Wednesday.

Mixu Paatelainen and David Lee strengthened their claims for places in the squad for the Tyneside test with impressive scoring performances at The Hawthorns last night but Fabian de Freitas, who scored two of the goals, aggravated a groin injury.

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