Jake Embery is still playing catch-up as he looks to make his mark at Maidstone.

Embery joined his hometown club with a reputation as a natural scorer after banging in more than 50 goals for Herne Bay in the Isthmian League.

He broke his collarbone in pre-season and has yet to start a game since recovering, with just a couple of substitute appearances to his name.

Stones head of football John Still said: "I think there's two things with Jake.

"The first thing is he never came back for pre-season in the best condition.

"Don't get me wrong, it was his first go at full-time training.

"I think he felt, 'well, I'm going to go back and train full-time, so I'll be all right' and he perhaps didn't look after himself the best.

"The second thing is he got injured straight away, his recovery took quite a bit of time and I think he's found it hard to get back to the level of fitness he would have had if he'd been able to train through pre-season.

"For those reasons, I think he's a little bit behind."

Maidstone were going to loan him out for match fitness but had a change of heart.

He's likely to be on the bench when they host Torquay in the FA Cup first round on Saturday and will be more involved as the season progresses.

Still said: "I do feel he will feature a bit more in the second half of the season.

• Embery's debut goal
• Jake on the mend
• A natural goalscorer

"He has been a bit behind and, if I'm honest, we've been happy with Ibby Akanbi up front.

"Ibbs is another one who's still learning but we feel we have to give him time.

"We feel Jake has something, we all do, but we'd have to play slightly differently with him in the team.

"We like Ibbs to be a runner, to run behind, where we feel Jake wants the ball into feet a little bit more.

"As we go on, the more we will integrate him.

"I like to play with two players high.

"We normally do, particularly when Matt McClure has played, and I think we might be doing that with Jake as well, but we're not rushing him.

"We talk to him regularly and I think he understands the situation. Sometimes players don't understand but he does."

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