Joe Ellul is set to return from a serious ankle injury months ahead of schedule in a huge boost for Maidstone.

There were fears Ellul would be out for the season after damaging ligaments in the Stones’ win at Oxford in September.

At best the defender was initially hoping to play some part in the National South run-in but he’s proved a quick healer and is hoping to be available for next weekend’s top-of-the-table home game against league leaders Dartford.

“I’m very, very close,” said Ellul, 32, who returned to full training this week.

“We’ve got a good medical team and Jak’s come in (strength and conditioning coach Jak Nye) and worked with me one-on-one and just pushed me to another level.

“It’s helped me recover a lot quicker. It’s surprised me, I’ve progressed massive amounts in a short space of time.”

Stones boss Hakan Hayrettin knows how important a fit Ellul is to his side’s promotion chances but was wary of rushing him back, saying he would be “led by the medical team”.

But it seems he’s good to go and he’s had the Dartford league game in mind ever since Maidstone’s FA Cup defeat by their Kent rivals that triggered a slump in form.

“It’s not been rushed at all,” said Ellul. “If anything I’m trying to rush it and they’re just knocking me back, which is beneficial for me because I don’t want to come back and land and it goes again.

“They’re doing right by me and keeping me in line to come back at the right time.

“I thought I’d probably end up playing 15 games and I’m going to end up closer to 30 if possible.

“I’ve always had it set in my head that Dartford’s the game I want to get back for, especially after losing to them in the FA Cup.

"Hopefully around that time I’m in contention to be in the squad or help the boys in any way I can.

“Physically it is what it is but mentally it’s been difficult, especially in that bad run, but we seem to have turned the corner again and got ourselves back into position where we can go and challenge for the league.”

Skipper George Elokobi is out with a hip injury but Ellul is coming back to plenty of competition.

Since his injury, United have signed George Fowler from Aldershot and converted Raphe Brown into a central defender, while out-of-favour Taylor Curran is another option.

“I welcome competition,” said Ellul.

“I’m old enough to know how the game goes, and I don’t expect to walk back in.

“If the boys are doing well I’ll bide my time.

“I’ll force my way back in if I have to but it’s welcome competition.

“We need numbers at the back because we were short for a while.

“It’s nice now to have Raphe, he’s been superb the last three or four games, hats off to him, and George (Fowler) staying on is a massive bonus for us.”