Bivesh Gurung has taken to a new defensive role at Maidstone United.

Gurung played centre-back for the first time in senior football as United won 1-0 at Dartford in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

He retained his spot in the back three at Chelmsford on Monday, helping the Stones to another 1-0 victory.

“It’s a new role,” said Gurung, a midfielder by trade.

“It takes some getting used to but I guess that comes with games and the lads have made it really easy for me.

“Playing alongside the likes of George Fowler and Sam Bone, they’re leaders on the pitch so they communicate with me throughout the whole 90 minutes and get me through the game.

“The gaffer is the same on the sidelines.”

Boss George Elokobi spoke to Gurung about the change of position the day before the Dartford game.

It was a challenge he embraced.

“He pulled me into his office and said I’m a versatile player and he’s going to play me right-side centre-half because of injuries to the likes of Raphe (Brown), Reiss (Greenidge) and Gav (Hoyte),” said Gurung.

“He just said he knows what my strengths and weaknesses are and he thought I could do a job there and I just tried to do the best I could.

“I’ve never played centre-half in senior football.

“It’s a lot more competitive, there’s a lot more riding on the games and the intensity’s higher so you’re going to be challenged a lot more.

“It’s just about learning the position and getting used to it. That comes from my team-mates.

“They know my strengths and weaknesses as well.

“For example, Liam Sole, who played right-wing-back, he’s helped me out defensively, he’s working so hard tracking back which makes my job easier as well.

“The clean sheets are nice but, to be fair, I feel that’s a part of my game anyway, battling hard and fighting for the team.”

Suspension and injury aside, local lad Gurung has been a fixture in Elokobi’s side this season.

It’s turning into a breakthrough campaign for the former Maidstone Grammar School pupil.

”When I’ve been available I’ve been playing so there’s nothing better than that,” he said.

“I really do feel like I’ve got the trust of the manager and he’s shown it.

“He’s played me in a lot of games and it’s just about continuing to have good performances and repaying that faith.”

Maidstone are third in the table after bouncing back from a 5-2 defeat at Hampton with 1-0 league wins against Dover and Chelmsford, either side of their Trophy success at Dartford.

Gurung said: “That’s the most important thing, to stay in that top part of the table around the play-off positions throughout the season.

“We had the setback against Hampton but like the gaffer always tells us, good teams don’t lose two on the bounce.

“We’ve bought into that and since Hampton we’ve won three on the bounce, so hopefully we can go on another unbeaten run.”