Maidstone goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr is ready to follow in the footsteps of Lucas Covolan.

Andre Jr is the new No.1 at the Gallagher Stadium after Covolan rejected a contract offer.

The Frenchman has big shoes to fill after Covolan’s excellent campaign, crowned by a man-of-the-match performance as United stunned Ipswich in the FA Cup.

But the 27-year-old, a free agent after leaving National League Woking near the end of last season, is determined to deliver.

“I know many goalkeepers,” he said.

“I know Lucas is a good goalkeeper and I’ve been following his career.

“I know they had a good goalkeeper last season and I’m trying to do as well as he did.”

Maidstone are Andre Jr’s third Kent club following spells at Folkestone and Dover.

He’s had his eye on the Stones in the past and is pleased to finally be at the Gallagher.

“I’m very happy,” he said.

“The manager (George Elokobi) called me and said they were looking for a No.1 and obviously they knew my profile.

“We’ve been talking with my agent many times with this team and I’ve always tried to come to Maidstone.

“It never happened and now this time it happened so I was like, ‘Yes, I’m interested to come and play games’.

“Maybe it wasn’t close before, just conversations, but they had a free place this time and here I am.

“It’s close to me, so it’s a good chance for me to come here and I know they have a good fanbase as well.”

Andre Jr took up goalkeeping at home in France aged seven.

He moved to the UK in 2017, joining Bristol Rovers and making his Football League debut in a 2-1 win over Walsall.

He’s also had spells in non-league with Maidenhead and Hashtag.

The 6ft3in keeper soon got used to English football.

“Goalkeeping is not that different but it’s just the football is different in England to what I was playing in France,” he said.

“It’s more physical, so I had to adapt, but that was OK because I’m tall and physical already, so I didn’t have any issue.”

Maidstone are targeting National League South promotion after reaching last season’s play-off semi-finals.

That’s a welcome change for Alexis Jr, who’s more used to helping teams at the other end of the table.

He may not be as busy in a Maidstone shirt but that’s not an issue as it will hopefully mean the team are doing well.

“We’re just trying to win as much as we can and see how it goes,” he said. “Win, win, win - that’s all that matters to us.

“I was looking to play for a club that is winning games and aiming for promotion because many times I’ve been playing with teams that are trying to stay in the league.

“It was a big decision for me to come somewhere I can play and try to win something.

“Our goal is to get the most clean sheets we can and, as a keeper, that’s what you want.

“It’s not just about saves, it’s about kicking and distribution and catching the ball and many other things.

“As long as you get a clean sheet I think you’re happy, it doesn’t matter how many saves you make.”

Maidstone beat Andre Jr’s old club Woking 1-0 in a friendly last weekend thanks to Matt Bentley’s second-half goal but their midweek friendly at Ashford was cancelled by the hosts.

Elokobi’s men visit Chatham on Saturday (3pm) and travel to Folkestone for their penultimate pre-season friendly on Tuesday (7.45pm) where they’re set to face ex-Stones favourites Gavin Hoyte and Joan Luque.