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John Still is convinced Saidou Khan will play in the Football League - comparing him to Tottenham star Harry Winks.
Khan has produced a string of outstanding performances in midfield for Maidstone, with fans loving his all-action style.
Head of football Still has sent numerous players on their way to bigger things in his long career and is certain the 23-year-old has a big future.
Still said: "I think he's a very exciting player. He's almost grown game by game.
"His performances have been at a level that you'd like to think could take him to a higher level. How high? We don't know.
"If people had said to me that Warren Barton would go on to play for England and Dwight Gayle, Marlon King and Gary Breen would play in the Premier League, I don't know if I would have said, 'yeah, they will' but I always felt they would progress. I feel the same with Saidou.
"This boy is going to progress, there's no doubt about it whatsoever.
"He's got all the ingredients and in less than half a season he's grown beyond all recognition.
"As with all players, particularly young players, we give them a lot of information to take in.
"Some pick it up quickly and some take longer but his progress has been quite remarkable."
Khan saw a move to MK Dons fall through 18 months ago and he returned to Tooting & Mitcham before signing for Maidstone last summer.
But Still is sure he will get another shot at professional football, comparing his style to Spurs midfielder Winks.
"I think he'll play in the Football League," said Still.
"If there's a player he reminds me of at the moment, it's Harry Winks. He's that type.
"If you ask him to sit and set moves up, he can do that.
"If you ask him to get forward, which is a big part of his game, he can do that with pace and he can run with the ball.
"If you watch the boy Winks, he can get the ball in midfield and run with it but he also runs back and gets his foot in, which is what Saidou does.
"Every time Saidou's on the ball, you think something's going to happen.
"He'll have a lull one day, they all do, but over the next year to 18 months he'll keep growing, I really do believe that."
