Matt McClure looks certain to be at Maidstone beyond January.

That's great news for Stones fans who have seen the forward score seven goals in nine games for the club, including a hat-trick against St Albans last weekend.

McClure finished pre-season at the Gallagher but head of football John Still didn't have the budget to get a deal over the line.

He eventually signed a short-term deal until January following a spate of injuries in attack and it seems he'll be staying put in the new year.

Still said: "He'll be here. That's just how it was at the time.

"I said to him when he signed, 'you haven't got to be marvellous, just do what I know you can do'.

"We'll be keeping him, no problems. He's done well for us.

"He loves it here and I've worked with Matt before at Dagenham, so he knows how I play."

McClure confirmed his intention to stay at Maidstone after sinking St Albans.

The 27-year-old has no interest in moving on, even if National League clubs come in.

He said: "All I want to do is play games and prove that I'm worth keeping here until the end of the season or beyond that.

"That's all I can do now. I just want to play for the team, put my shift in and if the goals and performances keep coming, then great.

"I'm happy here, it's working well at the moment, so there's no reason for me to jump ship."

McClure played more than 100 times for Wycombe in the Football League but the hat-trick against St Albans was the first of his career.

• McClure on Stones move
• Maidstone 4-0 St Albans

He's clearly benefiting from playing all the time.

He said: "I was saying to the boys it's the first club I've been at where I play 90 minutes.

"Everywhere else I've been I've come off after 70 minutes.

"I had a couple of knocks at half-time but I wasn't going to say anything because I wanted to get the hat-trick.

"The third goal was nice. Obviously you've got confidence from the first two and once the keeper comes out you know he's going to spread himself and all you can do is lift it over him."

Maidstone host Hitchin in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday.

The visitors are second-bottom in Southern League Premier Central with one win from nine games.

United are favourites to progress and bank £11,250 prize money, with McClure out to build on his goal against Cheshunt in the last round.

He said: "I didn't think I'd scored in the FA Cup before the other day but I went round my mum's, who writes down all my goals, and she told me I had.

"It would be nice to get a run going. Obviously the league is the priority but it would be great for the fans, great for the club and great for the town as well."

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