Magnus Okuonghae sees Maidstone’s friendly against Crystal Palace as a great opportunity for the club’s young players.

Premier League Palace will be in town on Saturday, July 15 as United celebrate five years at the Gallagher Stadium.

Okuonghae, who’s signed a one-year deal to stay with Jay Saunders’ side, is looking forward to lining up against the Eagles.

But he feels the day is more about the likes of defensive partner Kevin Lokko, who at 21, has the chance to push on.

Okuonghae, 31, said: “It’s a very good game to get but, for me, it’s a chance to get fit and enjoy the occasion.

“For someone like Lokko, who I think has got an unbelievable chance of going on and having a very good career, it’s a chance to test himself.

“You see how the big boys conduct themselves and the level and standard they reach in games.

“I was Colchester captain when Lokko was there and I used to talk to him a lot.

“He’d come training with the first team and I always tried to advise him because I’d seen something in him.

“Palace are supposedly bringing the first team, so it will be a great test.

“If you do well it gives you a lot of confidence going into the season.”

Okuonghae is also interested to see how strikers Joe Pigott and Jamar Loza fare.

He said: “I was with Pigott at Luton. I’m surprised how it ended for him at Cambridge but that’s football.

“I’m sure he’s had loads of suitors, so I was delighted to see him sign.

“The same for Loza. I saw him a while ago when he was on loan at Southend from Norwich and I thought ‘he’s a livewire, a very good player’.

“I thought he’d go on and play League 1 and Championship.

“I didn’t realise he was at Maidstone but it shows the strength of the dressing room and the respect the boys have got for the manager that they’ve stayed here.

“If these boys do well and have an impact here, there will always be interest.”