Frontman Ira Jackson Jr will come good in his second spell at Folkestone, according to boss Neil Cugley.

Jackson re-joined the Cheriton Road club on the eve of the new season, having gone on to play in the Football League after a successful first stint at Invicta.

The 25-year-old has started all five matches during their unbeaten start to the Isthmian Premier campaign but he has been substituted in the last three games.

Cugley remains confident the quality which saw Jackson play for Grimsby and in the National League at Wealdstone will come through in the end, though.

He said: “He hardly played at all in pre-season anywhere. In the last two years, I would have thought he’s maybe played 30 games.

“So I have just got to be patient with him. The quality will come through.

“He did well on Saturday and we have a good front four so we are not going to rush him. He will come good.”

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Invicta earned back-to-back victories over the Bank Holiday weekend as they came from behind to beat Billericay 3-2 on Saturday thanks to two-goal substitute Ibrahim Olutade before Kadell Daniel and Ade Yusuff - his third in as many games - ensured they defeated Herne Bay two days later at Cheriton Road.

“We started well last year. It’s quite pleasing that we have started well this year, as well, because we have made so many changes in personnel,” said Cugley, whose side are third.

“I think everybody has dropped into it quite well, they all seem happy.

"It’s a good club and a good place to be at the moment.”

Folkestone host North Greenford United in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round this weekend and hope to have midfielder Scott Heard (thigh) and defender Matt Newman (knee) available, the former having missed the Herne Bay win.

Cugley said: “That will give us a really strong squad - It’s amazing how quickly things can change! Maybe we can get Matt on the bench and Heardy back in the team, but we’ll wait and see.

“I think we missed Heardy’s energy on Monday. He does give us a lot of energy in midfield.”

The winner of Saturday’s FA Cup tie will earn £2,250 in prize money.

Cugley said: “We don’t really worry about other teams, we have got to get ourselves right. If we get ourselves right, we can beat any team.

“They will come here and look forward to playing at a nice stadium, won’t they? So we will have to match their work-rate.

“On Monday, I felt we were a bit nervy again. That’s the last two games we have looked a little bit nervy in. But if we can sort that out, I think we will have a really good season.”

Keeper Connor Collins has gone to Hollands & Blair in order to get minutes and he was replaced on the bench by youth-team player Harrison Chamberlain against Herne Bay.

Cugley explained: “To be fair, it’s a really difficult thing for managers at our level to keep two goalies happy.

“Hopefully with this lad, Harrison, he’s 17 and can still play for our youth teams, getting games and be about for us. He has a good reputation. Hopefully he will be No.2 here for a little while and Connor can go away and get some games. He needs that.

“You need a young lad or an experienced one doing some coaching [as a substitute goalkeeper].

“I have got no problems with Connor and I have no problems with him going to play somewhere.”