Maidstone United midfielder Dan Sweeney is staying at the Gallagher after signing a contract for next season.

Football League scouts have watched Sweeney, 22, since his arrival from Dulwich Hamlet in December and last month he was on standby for England C’s game in Ukraine.

But the former AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian man has committed to United, with his best form to come.

Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “He’s a young lad who wants to get on in the game. He’s had a lot of clubs watching him but he wants to be here next season.

“You look at him and he’s a good player, he’s a good size with good feet, he wants to learn and if he makes a mistake, he doesn’t go hiding.

“I think he’s had a mixed start here but there’s a lot more to come from him.

“He came in at the same time as Vas Karagiannis but it’s been a little bit harder for him because he had illness and missed a few games at the start, whereas Vas came straight in and had a run.

“He’d love to be a professional. His brother’s a centre-half at AFC Wimbledon and there’s no doubt he wants to go to that level but he’s seen his future here.

“There aren’t many 21/22-year-olds who get the chance to play week in, week out at this level. You look at Sutton against us the other night and I don’t think they had any.

“We had a bigger attendance than most League 2 games on the night, with over 3,000 in, so it’s a good place to be.”