New Maidstone striker Zac Attwood made an impression on boss Jay Saunders during transfer talks, with his desire to play for the club.

Attwood has joined Stones from Ryman League, Premier Division rivals Margate and is set to make his debut at Hampton & Richmond on Saturday.

Saunders had been tracking the player and made an approach after Attwood helped Gate beat Maidstone last week. Ian Draycott has been released to make room for the striker.

Saunders said: “We’re lucky to get Zac. Margate normally put their players on contract so I was surprised to find out he wasn’t. He was recommended to us last year when he was at Hastings but we already had five strikers.

“We had him watched three or four times and all the reports were good. Then we saw first-hand what he was capable of last week. At 24, he’s a good age and still wants to learn. We spoke on the phone for 45 minutes on Sunday and not once was money mentioned.

“He just wanted to know all about the club and what the team were like. He met me at the ground on Monday to get a feel for the place and another 40 minutes went by without talking money."

Attwood should start alongside Frannie Collin at Hampton, with Paul Booth on best-man duties at a wedding.

Midfielder Danny Lye is also attending the wedding, while Rory Hill has been in hospital with stomach pains. Jerrome Sobers isn’t due back from an overseas wedding until the morning of the game so Graeme Andrews is set to continue in central defence.