Former Charlton Athletic youngster Alex Willis will be given a fresh start by Sheppey United this summer.

The striker was a prolific scorer in the Charlton youth ranks and returned to the UK last year after playing and studying in America.

With fitness lacking, he didn’t get much action following his move to Sheppey, limited to just a couple of appearances, but will be given every chance to prove himself again.

Sheppey have seen one striker go as Warren Mfula moved to Faversham and Dan Bradshaw came back from Chatham but Willis will fancy making a mark himself this coming season.

Manager Jack Midson said: “Young Alex came from Faversham Strike Force and he has something, he will be around it. We have the potential to go two-up, one in behind, or one up, we will look at that pre-season.

“He was at Charlton with a few of the lads, he knows Aiden the goalie, Frankie Morgan and his brother (Albie) was with Alex in the Charlton squad along with a couple of other lads. He fits the mould and is a natural goalscorer.

“He wasn’t 100% fit when we brought him in towards the end of the season. He is a proud man and didn’t want to give a false account of himself. I think he will be champing at the bit for a fresh start.

“He has great movement and an eye for goal, it is up to him. If he comes in and does well in pre-season then it will put a thought in my mind about whether to start him.”

Midson can afford to be choosy with his summer recruitment after keeping hold of many of his key men and he would rather a smaller squad which makes life easier to manage.

He said: “We have a healthy budget here, everyone has to fit in financially. There are players we would like to have in but we have restraints.

“I don’t need a massive squad, I won’t be announcing loads, maybe another centre-back and a left-sided player, that’s probably it.

“I have been speaking to a couple of lads who are being chased by other clubs but it is what it is. There is no stress to get people in. If I can maintain 80% of the squad from the back end of last year then that’s a result because we were really good in that second half of the season. I have pretty much done that.

“We’ve got Frankie Morgan at left-back, Lekan Majoyegbe centre-back, Connor Wilkins who can play right back but potentially I would like to utilise him in midfield with his energy and aerial threat, he prefers it there.

“Danny Leonard is staying at the club, Jono (Richardson), Eddie (Allsopp) is confirmed, Richie Hamill, Josh Wisson should be staying and a few of the others I have given a fresh slate. If they do well pre-season then they are in the squad.”