Dan Sweeney pays no attention to Football League speculation and has proved it by signing a contract at Maidstone.

Championship outfit Blackburn were the latest club to watch the midfielder last week but the former AFC Wimbledon man is thinking only about the Stones after completing a deal for next season.

Sweeney, 22, said: “It’s a great club and I love being here. All the staff and the fans are great, so I’m delighted to get it signed.

“The League stuff didn’t come into my thinking at all. I can block that out. To be honest, I’m not one to listen to any of that."

Sweeney joined Maidstone from Dulwich last December, two days after Vas Karagiannis made the move from Leatherhead. But while Karagiannis proved an instant hit with his spectacular goals, it’s taken Sweeney time to get going.

He said: “It’s been hard for me. I’ve been ill, I’ve been out of the squad a few times and just come back and got a run of games now. I’ve been a bit up and down but hopefully I can only get better."

Sweeney was in the frame for international recognition last month when he was placed on standby for the England C team’s game in Ukraine. It went no further but it was nice to be considered.

He said: “If anyone had dropped out I might have gone, which would have been exciting and a good experience.”

Read the full interview with Dan Sweeney in Friday's Kent Messenger.