Maidstone goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr has nailed his pre-season target after reaching 20 clean sheets in National League South.

Andre Jr brought up the milestone in the Stones’ 3-0 win at Hampton & Richmond last Saturday.

It was a figure he and manager George Elokobi discussed when the Frenchman joined last summer as a replacement for Lucas Covolan, who departed after rejecting a new deal.

Elokobi described Andre Jr as the best goalkeeper in the division this week and the numbers back up his claim, with Maidstone conceding just 32 goals in 40 games.

“Before the start of the season, my goal with the gaffer was to hit 20 clean sheets,” said Andre Jr.

“We’ve hit it now and we’ll try to get as many as we can.

“I’m very happy to have 20 because before now I wasn’t even playing 20 games a season and now, in my first season playing every game, I’m doing 20 clean sheets.”

Andre Jr, who made his debut in English football with Bristol Rovers, saw his move to Maidstone as a chance to challenge for honours.

In his non-league days, including spells with the likes of Dover, Maidenhead and Woking, he’s been at the wrong end of the league.

He’s got his wish at the Gallagher, with United fighting for promotion to the National League.

“It’s a great feeling trying to win the league or hitting the play-offs,” said Andre Jr.

“It’s good to be in a team like that because now I can show myself and be winning games and keeping clean sheets.

“Before it was conceding goals and making saves, so it’s hard to find another club. When your team is doing well, everybody is thinking you’re great, so it’s a different feeling now.

“I look at my saves, the crosses, the kicking, after every single game. It’s maybe not the best I’ve ever played but it’s the first time I’m playing that many games, so I just need to keep going.

“Usually I love to make saves but now I’m doing the clean sheets I’m enjoying my time but I’m not conceding goals.

“I’m hoping I’m not having too many shots and just having my clean sheets now.

“The defence have been very good. They are very strong. I don’t have many jobs to do.

“Recently it’s one or two saves I have to make to keep a clean sheet so I just have to stay focused for 90 minutes.

“Usually it was five or six saves per game but now it’s challenging my concentration.”

Former Maidstone keeper Covolan was a popular figure at the Gallagher.

There were big shoes to fill when the Brazilian, man-of-the-match in the Stones’ FA Cup fourth-round win at Ipswich last season, decided to move on.

But Andre Jr has proved more than up to the task.

“Lucas did his thing last season and I’m happy that I’ve replaced him pretty well,” said the Stones No.1.

“I’m not the one having to say Lucas was so good and I’m so bad, so I’m happy I did my job as well as he did.”

A first full season has presented challenges on the physical side as Andre Jr looks to stay fresh and fit.

Elokobi has looked after him, ensuring he isn’t over-worked on the training ground.

That’s helped the big stopper, as has slowing down in the pre-match warm-up.

“I’m just trying to manage my body well during the week, not doing too much and having a nice recovery and not doing too much during the warm-ups,” said Andre Jr.

“At the start of the season I was doing too much in the warm-up, I was tired during the game, but now I’m just chilling during the warm-up and staying fresh for the game.”