Maidstone boss Jay Saunders is backing former academy player Ben Swift to bounce back from his Aston Villa release.

Swift’s stay at Villa is over after the Midlands giants decided not to renew his contract.

The defender joined Villa, then in the Premier League, more than two years ago and was tipped for big things by Jack Parkinson, his old Stones academy coach.

But a bad ankle injury halted his progress and he never made a first-team appearance.

He was back training with hometown club Maidstone before signing for Steve Watt at Margate at the end of last week.

Saunders said: “Swifty trained with us for a bit and was offered something at Barnsley, which fell through, but I’ve no doubt he’ll go on and play higher again.

“He’s an old-fashioned centre-half who will head and kick everything - you could see how much he’s improved from being at Villa.

“It’s just fitness. He had a big operation on his ankle, which killed him.

“He needs to play and it’s a good fit going down to Margate with Watty.

“If he was fitter he’s someone I might have looked at but I had a choice between him and Magnus Okuonghae and I went with the more experienced option.”