Stuart Zanone is back at Ashford United and his manager believes the goals will soon start flowing again for the Bostik South strugglers.

Zanone, who was prolific in his previous spell with the Nuts & Bolts, returned to the club ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to East Grinstead.

Ashford are the division’s lowest scorers with just nine goals in 12 games but Jason Whitmore is confident things will change now Zanone is back in green and white.

He said: “It’s a massive boost. Stuart has a rich history at the club. He was the all-time scorer (47) in a season and he’s a nice lad as well.

“It’s all about building those characters and we needed a stronger, more physical player. The other players are all similar up top but we can diversify the team now if needed, be dogged and hold the ball up.

“Having Stuart up top with George Humber is something I think will cause any team a problem in this division.

“The goals will come. We had some great link-up play with Stuart and Matt Day on Saturday and it won’t take long. On another day, we’d have had another three goals.”
Zanone’s brother Sam, a centre-back, has also joined the club but he’s on honeymoon and won’t be available for another week.

Fellow newcomers Jack Healey and Tommy Cooney both started against East Grinstead, with full-back Cooney scoring Ashford’s goal.

He’s joined from Hayes & Yeading, while Healey is back at the club for a second spell having left in March 2016.

Whitmore said: “We’re talking to one other player and I’ll be happy if we get him.

“It gives me something to work with and it will allow me to use the youngsters in games and start getting some positive results so the youngsters can enjoy that part of football, not the negative part of coming into a team that’s not doing well.

“Morale can be low quickly when they go a goal down but we want to believe we can still go on to win the game.”

Whitmore has a decision to make in goal following George Kamurasi’s departure to Greenwich Borough.

Aaron Lee-Wharton was back between the posts at the weekend after Josh Glover deputised against Shoreham last Tuesday – a game Ashford lost 4-2.

Whitmore said: “Aaron’s 19 so it’s a big step for him. He’s a good goalie but he’s also a young lad and we don’t want to destroy him so we’ve got to look at our options carefully.”

Ashford are away to Carshalton on Saturday and Phoenix Sports on Tuesday.