Maidstone captain George Elokobi is back in business after four months out.

Elokobi made his comeback after recovering from a groin injury in the Stones’ Kent Senior Cup tie at Tonbridge on Tuesday night.

He got through 90 minutes as the visitors went down 1-0 and manager Hakan Hayrettin was delighted to have him back.

“I’m overly pleased,” said Hayrettin.

“George is my club captain, he had a bad, bad injury.

“He’s definitely someone I would look up to as a player.

“He’s a great influence, a great character, a great personality and I’m glad he’s got his boots back on.

“He does everything with professionalism and dignity and he never let himself down.”

George Fowler and Joe Ellul have established themselves as Maidstone’s first-choice pairing in central defence during Elokobi’s absence, helping the team go 13 games unbeaten in National South.

That isn’t about to change.

“You can’t separate those two, George knows that, and there might be someone else who’s ahead of him as well but George is vitally important in everything we do,” said Hayrettin.

“He’s a great leader in that changing room, he leads them really well and I thought he played really well.”

Maidstone gave chances to a number of fringe players in their second-round tie at Longmead, while there was a debut for young goalkeeper Harley Earle.

Adam Coombes scored the only goal on the stroke of half-time as the Stones bowed out.

“It was important to get minutes under their belts and they all pushed hard,” said Hayrettin. “It was an exercise we needed.

“Every week we arrange games anyway, we top the lads up with games.

“This was obviously more competitive, they scored at a vital moment in the game, with seconds to go in the first half.

“It was an even game but it was more about people getting minutes, so I’m happy about that.

“I want to win every game but it wasn’t to be.”