Ashford goalkeeper Jacob Russell believes he’s getting back to his best after the first rocky spell of his career.

Russell, a former first-year pro at Crystal Palace, had the season of his life for the Nuts & Bolts last year.

He didn’t hit those heights at the start of the current campaign but he’s played his way back into form.

“Last season was probably the best season I’ve ever had,” said Russell, 22.

“It was interrupted by a couple of injuries but I kicked on from the year I had at Ramsgate and went up a gear.

“I’m probably my own biggest critic.

“I’ll play well and still be annoyed about little things but this season it’s not been as good on a personal level.

“I think it’s got better. I’m getting there and now it’s about finding a level of consistency. I think that’s one of the most important things for a goalkeeper, especially at this level.

“Most managers just want a solid seven out of 10 every week and I’m working really hard to try and get that.

“I had a really tough pre-season for a couple of reasons, on and off the pitch, and that carried into the early part of the season but I’d like to think I’ve turned that around.

“I said this to Adam Flanagan (assistant boss) the other day, this is probably the first time in my career that I’ve had things that have gone wrong.

“I know that sounds a bit ‘spoiled bratty’ but it was the first time where I felt like I was having a spell where I wasn’t playing particularly well.”

Russell earned rave reviews after joining the Nuts & Bolts under Tommy Warrilow last season.

His form quickly earned a contract until the end of the 23/24 campaign.

He’s building a career outside of football working in schools but still has ambitions to return to the full-time game.

The keeper came through the youth ranks at Palace, where he was handed a pro deal before gaining experience of men’s football at Ramsgate.

“I’d love to get back in the pro game,” said Russell.

“I think any player that says they don’t ever want to go pro is probably not telling the truth because most would love to and most would give up jobs for the opportunity to go full-time in the National League or League 2.

“Whether that’s something that’s going to be a possibility, I don’t know, but I’m just trying to enjoy my football and see what happens.

“I’m trying to build a career outside football as well so I’ve got something to fall back on but I would love it to happen. I’m hopeful but you just never know. You never know who’s watching.

“Age is on my side, especially as a keeper.

“I think football is probably the hardest industry to break into.

“I probably got too comfortable at Palace. I’d been there from the age of 10.

“The older you get, the more you think ‘I’ve cracked this’. You’re sitting there at 18/19 on quite good money for people of that age, training every day and you kind of get comfortable in your environment.

“I never expected to go and play in Palace’s first team but I thought maybe I’d go on loan to League 2 but it never really worked out like that.

“I trained with the first team seven or eight times and the rest of the time I was with the 23s.

“I’ll always look back on those years as an achievement.

“As much as it doesn’t sound great, I can say I was a professional footballer for that year when I finished my scholarship and signed a professional deal.

“I’ve done that and no one can take that away from me.

“I’d rather do it again and play every week, whether that’s in the National League or League 2, but if it doesn’t happen I can say I did it to a point, I was on a pro deal, so it’s good memories.”

Sixth-placed Ashford came from 2-0 down to beat Sheppey 3-2 in Isthmian South East at Homelands on Saturday.

Ian Draycott and Harvey Brand squared the match before Noah Carney’s last-minute winner.

Their midweek game at Horndean was postponed.

The Nuts & Bolts visit Chichester this Saturday (3pm) and host Cray Valley on Tuesday (7.45pm).