Support role for loan star

Hady Ghandour had one thing on his mind when he rejoined Maidstone on loan from Charlton - winning the league.

What a difference a few months made for the Lebanon international striker, whose initial spell at the Gallagher came during their mini-slump of four defeats in five games between October and November.

By the time he returned, in March, it was a far happier camp with Maidstone on a long unbeaten run and on course to beat Dorking to the National South title.

Normally it’s all about gaining experience of men’s football when young players arrive on loan from Football League clubs.

Ghandour knew he’d be playing second fiddle to

Jack Barham, who scored 18 goals in half a season before suffering a toe injury against Chelmsford in the win that clinched the league.

But that didn’t matter, with the forward’s sights set on doing whatever he could to help United win silverware. “I knew I wasn’t going to play from the get-go because the boys were doing an unbelievable job,” said Ghandour, who scored his first Maidstone goal after replacing Barham against Chelmsford, followed by another at Welling two days later.

“We’d only lost one game after I came back before winning the league, which was at Slough. “Thatwasmyaim,todomy bit to help the team keep pushing on, and it was nice to get that goal against Chelmsford.

“I was close to scoring against Dartford and I knew if I kept working hard, like the gaffer always tells us, my chance would come.

“Even from my first loan the boys were so good to me and helped me settle in, I can’t speak highly enough of them. “That’s the reason I’m so happy, because they deserve it as much as anyone.

“They work hard every day, no one really sees what goes on behind the scenes and I feel it because they’re my brothers and thankfully we got promoted.

“There was a big difference coming back here.

“When I came on loan the second time it was a bit more relaxed because the boys had been getting results, but the first time was a bit on edge, we couldn’t buy a win until the Chippenham game. “The boys were a bit more relaxed, they were a bit more free to express themselves because we got those wins under our belt, and with wins, you can express yourself with confidence.”