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Maidstone manager Jay Saunders pondering deals for ex-Norwich players Michee Efete and Jake Hallett

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders is weighing up his options over former Norwich City pair Michee Efete and Jake Hallett.

Both youngsters were released by the Championship side this summer and have been training with the Stones.

Defender Efete, 21, played 60 minutes in Maidstone’s 3-1 defeat to Billericay last Friday but missed Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Sevenoaks due to illness.

Stones boss Jay Saunders (left) and assistant Steve Watt have plenty to ponder as they fine tune their squad Picture: Sean Aidan
Stones boss Jay Saunders (left) and assistant Steve Watt have plenty to ponder as they fine tune their squad Picture: Sean Aidan

Former Norwich under-23 keeper Hallett played the full game against Sevenoaks and could be the man Saunders is looking for, as he seeks an able deputy for first-choice Lee Worgan.

Efete played 24 games on loan for Torquay in the National League, mainly at right-back, and Saunders has liked what he has seen so far, saying: “I have been impressed with Michee so he is someone we are talking to, but we will see on that one.

“There was a chance for me to look at Jake in goal. We will have a chat with him. He is an option for us and that is an area we have been looking at but as I have said before, it is a tough one to fill.”

Maidstone’s final pre-season match is on Saturday, at home to Dulwich Hamlet, and Saunders will be hoping for a better showing from his side in the attacking third, an area he has seen room for improvement in the last two games.

After Tuesday’s match, where he experimented with a 3-5-2 formation, he said: “We kept the ball well at times, but (it was) in the final third again, with our decision making, having too many touches and not getting the ball into the box.

“It was good to mix it up and try something new, there were some positives and some negatives.

“I watched the (Billericay) game back and we had the majority of possession. We moved the ball well, but it was about our decision making in the final third, whereas in the first three games it was very good. That’s what we will learn and look to improve on.”

Saunders has a couple of injury concerns heading into the final pre-season game. Ollie Muldoon pulled out of the Sevenoaks game in the warm-up after failing to shake off a rib injury picked up against Billericay, while Andre Coker came off at half-time, suffering with a thigh strain.

Moments earlier he had netted Stones' equaliser against Sevenoaks after good work from Stuart Lewis, cancelling out Zac Attwood's early effort.

Maidstone have been picked for TV coverage early this season, with BT Sports broadcasting their game at Maidenhead live. It means an earlier 12.30pm kick-off for the match on Saturday, August 25.

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