by Craig Tucker

Jay Saunders has a decision to make on the future of defender Jerrome Sobers – less than a week after signing him.

Sobers (pictured) has joined Maidstone unpaid but with Steve Watt also arriving on loan from Dover, he could only make the bench against Burgess Hill.

On top of that, Nicky Humphrey has recovered from a knee injury and played 45 minutes in a 4-1 friendly defeat by Erith & Belvedere on Tuesday.

Sobers, a Ryman League Premier Division title winner with Billericay last season, wants to stay at Maidstone but also has other options.

United boss Saunders said: "Jerrome’s a good player and someone I like a lot but I’d been after Steve Watt for a month and wanted to see that deal through.

"It gives us some thinking to do because with Nicky Humphrey coming back to fitness, we suddenly have five centre-halves with Graeme Andrews and Steve Ward.

"Jerrome’s come in unpaid and he’s keen to stay but he also has Canvey Island, Hornchurch and Billericay after him."

Stones face two Kent derbies in four days with Herne Bay away on Saturday, followed by Whitstable at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.

Humphrey’s return means Charlie Mitten (broken arm) is United’s only absentee.