Conor Kelly hopes to be nearing the end of his injury troubles as he spends a first Christmas away from his family in America.

Maidstone midfielder Kelly, 24, left his home in New Jersey last summer to pursue a career in English football.

He’d been playing for weeks with an ankle injury before stepping out of the team at the end of September.

He’s been on the sidelines since, missing Maidstone’s promotion challenge and run to the FA Cup third round.

It’s been a difficult period for Kelly, particularly at a time of year when he would normally be enjoying Christmas back in the States.

It’s been made easier by his Stones team-mates and the sacrifices will be worth it when he’s back on the pitch.

“It’s been a really tough period,” said Kelly.

“I’m just trying to stay positive.

“The boys have been fantastic but it’s probably been the hardest two-and-a-half months of my life.

“Hopefully I’m over the hill soon and it can all be put behind me.

“We don’t like to put a date on things but hopefully it won’t be too long.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself and miss a date I’ve put pressure on making.

“It’s been hard being away from family but the boys have been really good to me.

“It’s made it a bit easier but it’s been quite hard because I just think of all the sacrifices I’m making and some days when you feel you aren’t progressing or you have a setback, you kind of question yourself.

“I did my ankle against Weymouth and I played five games with it.

“I missed one game and kind of felt the pain would go away but we didn’t have many bodies and I was just trying to do a job for the team.

“I was glad I was able to carry on to a certain extent but the pain became too much.

“You’re never going to feel 100% as a footballer. I don’t think I’ve felt 100% in years.

“You always have something and with experience you have to figure out what you can play through and what you can’t.

“This just became something I couldn’t play with any more so I kind of had to sit out but hopefully not too much longer.

“It’s funny because I felt I was playing my best football after the injury.

“Maybe my mind was on the injury and not performances and so they took care of themselves.

“I felt I’d finally come to terms with the league and the style of football but I’ve learned a lot watching the boys and it’s been great the run they’ve been on.”

Elokobi’s Christmas message

Kelly spent Thanksgiving Day - a major date in the US calendar - with family friends in Fulham.

And his Christmas Day has been taken care of thanks to an invite from Stones team-mate Sam Bone.

“I’m excited to do Christmas with the Bones for the first time,” said Kelly.

“I’m lucky I have a really good support group here.

“It’s made missing the Christmas and Thanksgiving season easier but we always have fun parties in the US that I’ll be missing out on this year.

“You can’t beat Christmas. It’s the best day of the year.

“Everyone in the US loves it. It’s just a fun time. My sister’s coming over just after Christmas and once I get back playing, my mum and my dad will come over to watch a match.

“My sister’s coming to the FA Cup third round (Maidstone play Stevenage on January 6) so hopefully I can be out there playing in front of her but if not I’ll be with her in the stands.

“It’s been great here. I didn’t expect to be so happy in my personal life when I’m coming through such a difficult time in my professional life with my injury.

“This is a really nice spot and I’m very lucky how things have turned out, injury aside.

“You always have to count your blessings. It could be a lot worse. I could be injured for an even longer period so I’m happy with how things are going and if my ankle can just get right, I’ll be over the moon.”