Sittingbourne manager Nick Davis believes Kane Rowland will go close to 30 goals this season.

Rowland took his tally to 19 with an early double in Bourne’s 2-0 win over Hastings at the weekend and has proved a big hit since joining from Whitstable last summer.

Davis said: “Nineteen goals is a great return, absolutely fantastic. I was after a 20-goal man and it looks like I’ve got one.

“He got 30 in the league below with Whitstable last season and if he continues the way he is, he’ll get 25 and be pushing 30 this season. I’m pleased for him.”

Davis feels Rowland is capable of playing higher and knows interest will follow if he maintains his form.

He added: “He’s got a lot to learn but he works so hard. He’s brave as well, he puts himself about and he’s lethal in the box. He’d be the first to admit his hold-up play has got to improve but his all-round game is good.

“He’s been great for us and people will be looking at him, there’s no two ways about it.”

Sittingbourne have brought in help for Rowland by signing Richmond Ayaloo from Bostik Premier club Kingstonian. The big striker was an unused substitute against Hastings but could make his debut at VCD on Saturday.

Davis said: “He played for Romford at the start of the season and Kingstonian saw him and snapped him up straight away. With a revamp there, chances have been thin on the ground and we’ve been able to get him in.

“He’s a friend of our centre-half, John Coker, and is one of those that comes with pedigree.”

Sittingbourne went up to 10th in Bostik South after back-to-back victories, while VCD struggle in 19th but Davis is taking nothing for granted.

He said: “It depends what VCD side turn up – they caused us a lot of problems at home.

"It’ll be a tough game but we’ve got nothing to lose. To be 10th on 42 points with 16 games to go shows we’ve had a decent season.

“We want to finish as high as we can and I’ve said to the lads to make sure they give everything because we’re down to one game a week now and it’s a long time to sit on a defeat if you lose, or a week to enjoy it if you win.”