Jake Robinson believes he will thrive under the weight of expectation after joining Maidstone from Billericay.

United paid an undisclosed fee for the 32-year-old striker who has been prolific in lower leagues over the past few years.

He’s unproven at National League level but Stones fans are hoping he’s the man to fire them out of the bottom four.

The former Brighton player's stats make impressive reading, scoring 57 goals as Billericay won the Bostik Premier title last season and backing it up with 16 in National League South.

Before that, he’d been free-scoring at Hemel.

Robinson said: “I thrive on that kind of pressure.

"I’ve always performed better when I’m under that pressure and I’m perceived as the man who’s going to get the goals. That’s just the way it’s generally been.

“I didn’t feel that way while I was a professional because I never got that run of games as an out-and-out striker and had that faith shown in me to get an extended run in the team.

“But since I’ve dropped down to non-league I’ve loved playing week in, week out, I’ve improved with age and I think that comes with experience.

“I’m going to enjoy it. I know there is a little bit of extra pressure because the club’s in a position it doesn’t want to be in right now and they’ve put faith in me to come and help them out.”

Robinson briefly sampled the National League - then the Conference - as a teenager at Aldershot.

He accepts he’s largely untested but his record at Hemel and Billericay means he’s stepping up full of confidence.

He said: “I’m sure it won’t take me long to adjust - it generally doesn’t - and I’m excited for the future.

“For my position there’s not going to be that much difference.

“I think the defenders at this level are probably slightly quicker, slightly stronger, slightly fitter, but my game is based on my movement and speed of thought rather than my physical attributes.

“For me it’s all about using my experience and continuing my momentum because as a striker you get into good runs of scoring goals and things go your way.

“Luckily it’s been that way for a couple of years now.

“I had a sudden move from Hemel Hempstead, where I was scoring, to Billericay and I carried it on, so I’m hoping for more of the same.”

Robinson is aiming for at least 10 goals in the second half of the season as Maidstone look to get out of trouble.

He said: “I was in the Conference South with Hemel and I hit 24 by February, and I played at this level when I was 17 and I had five in six or five in seven with Aldershot, so given a whole season and time to adjust I always aim for 20 league goals.

“Given there’s half a season left, I’ll be looking to get to 10 first and then kick on from there.

“If I score 10 or 15 goals, the team’s going to be in a better position.

“I’ve seen enough that I’m confident the team’s going to do well this season.

“It’s not in the run of form it wants to be in at the moment and those little things are going against us.

“But it’s going to happen, it’s going to turn around, it always does, that’s football and when these chances come up, we’re going to have to start taking them.”

Robinson’s move sees him reunited with Harry Wheeler, his old manager at Billericay.

Wheeler had been chasing him since taking over at the Gallagher Stadium but hopes of landing him looked over when the striker signed a new contract at New Lodge.

Football changes quickly, though, and Ricay allowed the deal to happen.

Robinson said: “I kept an eye on Maidstone’s results because I considered Harry a good friend and a manager I worked well with.

“I always assumed one day there may be a chance to work together again.

“I didn’t expect it be quite so soon, having signed a new two-year contract at Billericay just a month ago, so it did come as a bit of a surprise.”