Big striker Harry Smith is under no pressure to perform at Sittingbourne.

The summer signing from Sevenoaks is in contention for a shirt as Brickies look to replace last season’s top scorers Joe Taylor and Ryan Golding.

Smith is back in action after a pre-season injury and scored the 70th-minute consolation in a 2-1 home friendly defeat by VCD on Saturday.

He catches the eye at 6ft 4in but boss Matt Wyatt said: “Harry has no experience at this level and needs to learn the game.

“He holds the ball up well and has some pace. He can play as well, which is why we liked him but with his size, he’s an option if we need to go more direct occasionally.

“He’ll be OK but he’s only 22 and I don’t want to put any pressure on him.

“We have no option but to look for raw talent from lower leagues and try to work on them. We’ve lost players like Taylor, Golding, Luke Girt and Ashley Ulph and have had to rebuild with a smaller budget.”

Wyatt plans to cut his 24-man squad to 18 before the Ryman League, Division 1 South opener at Corinthian Casuals on August 9.

He has two more friendlies to help him decide, at home to Cray on Saturday (3pm) and a new fixture at Lewisham on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Read the full story in Wednesday's Sittingbourne News Extra