Summer signing Ben Brookes is already feeling the benefits of his move to Maidstone.

Left-back Brookes, 23, has hit the ground running after joining from fellow National League South side Chelmsford.

He bought into manager George Elokobi’s off-season fitness programme and it’s shown on the training pitch.

Brookes, who’s also played for Hashtag United, is loving life with his new club.

He said: “What I’ve had in the past has been good but this is another level.

“I enjoy just coming in, breakfast’s available and everything in general is a lot more professional.

“There’s literally no reason for me to pick up any unnecessary injuries and all that stuff.

“Whenever I used to train in the morning, doing my own bits, I always felt much more fresh because sometimes it's a long day after going to work and then training in the evenings.

“Now I feel like this is perfect for me.

“George gave us a programme to follow from the middle of May and it has been intense.

“But doing this has helped us go straight into pre-season because I feel if we didn’t stick to that, you can tell.

“It’s been beneficial for me and I’ve been keeping up with all the top dogs who run a lot, so it’s been good.

“You cheat yourself if you don’t do it and then you won’t enjoy it at all when it comes to running because you’ll already be struggling.

“You can’t cheat around George. You’ll certainly be found out.”

Elokobi was a key factor in Brookes’ move to Maidstone.

The chance to learn from a player who played Premier League football in his position was one he couldn’t turn down.

He said: “That was a massive part in me joining the club just because he’s played there in the past.

“I feel like I can learn a lot from him, especially because he played at Premier League level.

“Everything that he’s told me about Maidstone is what I wanted to hear and so far everything he said has matched.

“Every single day I’ve been at the club I’ve enjoyed it and the plans he has for us and what he expects matches my goals as well.

“I’m looking forward to starting the season.”

Brookes knows exactly what’s required under Elokobi.

He added: “I’d say I’m quite athletic but he wants me to be more ruthless and he wants me to boost my stats up.

“Last season I scored one goal but I did get 13 assists, but he definitely wants me to contribute towards more goals and be an absolute animal basically running up and down the left channel, doing as much as I can for the team.”

While Brookes is enjoying the chance to learn from Elokobi, his early grounding in football came courtesy of his Swedish mother.

“My mum used to be a footballer,” he said. “She was a right-back, so she’s taught me some stuff that’s helped my game.

“When I was younger, playing Sunday League football, she always used to be that parent sprinting up and down the pitch helping me.

“She took me to all the academies when I was younger.

“Sweden’s a country I’ve always dreamed of playing for, to be fair. I would pick them over England if it ever came to it.”

Brookes, who speaks basic Swedish, also contemplated playing in Sweden before going down the non-league route in England.

He said: “When I finished college it was actually a path I considered but I had so much going on at home.

“I was working from the age of 17, I had a lot going on and I just thought it was too much to risk.

“So I stayed here and went through non-league.”