Former Maidstone youngster Bivesh Gurung has started his scholarship at Crystal Palace.

Gurung, once rejected by Norwich, was scouted while playing for United’s under-16s and earned a deal at Palace after five months of trials.

The youngster left his hometown club with a Kent Youth League title medal and is dreaming of working his way into the Eagles first team.

He said: “When the Palace scout approached me at Maidstone, it just boosted my confidence.

“I felt happy and shocked at the same time because when such a big club approaches you, it always feels good and also in my past I was at a pro club - Norwich - and I got told I wasn’t good enough so having another opportunity now has made me really happy.

“When I signed my agreement for trials at Palace there was no set time period for how long they wanted me to trial for. They just kept me for as long as they felt they needed to see me.

“I was on trial for five months in total because my first meeting with them, after having some feedback, they told me I have the quality and my ability is not in question, they just wanted to see if I could do it on a consistent basis, which is probably why it took as long as it did.

“I did feel a couple of times that I might be close to a deal but I didn’t really want to think about it.”

Maidstone meet Palace in a friendly on Saturday to mark five years at the Gallagher.