Sam Corne has been cleared to make his comeback by a Premier League doctor.

The Maidstone midfielder hasn't played since injuring his knee in the 4-0 win over St Albans last September.

It's been a frustrating time for the ex-Ashford man, whose attempts to return stalled due to pain in his knee when striking the ball.

However, he's back in business after Stones chief executive Bill Williams stepped in to help.

Corne said: "Bill sorted out an appointment with one of Tottenham's head doctors, who works sometimes at KIMS Hospital in Maidstone.

"He looked at my scans and what-not and said he often sees these injuries where they can be quite uncomfortable but they won't get any worse by playing, so it's a case of managing it through the pain.

"My issue was whether there would be any repercussions from playing, whether I could make it worse.

"As long as it doesn't, I'm happy to play.

"It's actually feeling a lot better.

"I've been back in training for the last couple of weeks and it's felt all right.

"I've had a little bit of stuff the following day but nothing major."

Corne was named on the bench at Billericay last weekend only for the game to be postponed an hour before kick-off following a pitch inspection.

The New Lodge pitch was in a terrible state but Corne would have been ready to play.

He said: "I was the only midfielder as such on the bench so it was quite nice that John (Still) and Hakan (Hayrettin) had confidence to put me straight in the mix should I have been needed.

"Of all the games to come back, the pitch wasn't ideal but it's football at the end of the day.

"You play on some nice pitches and some bad ones.

"You've still got to do the same job."

Corne's return is timely with Maidstone fighting for a National South play-off place.

Central midfield is looking strong with Saidou Khan, Zihni Temelci and Andre Boucaud forming a promising understanding.

But Corne has the quality to force his way back in while he also gives Maidstone an option out wide, having excelled on the right on the day he got injured.

He said: "The boys in midfield are doing well at the minute.

"We have discussed me playing wide right at times but whenever, wherever I'm needed, I'm more than happy to do a job.

"It's a good time to be coming back to boost the squad.

"A couple of players have left recently and this is a crucial time of year so hopefully we can get on a run.

"I'd like to think I'll have a role to play.

"I've been training well and the boys seem happy to have me back.

"It's nice to have that feeling around the camp."

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