Ter Horst’s nearly ready to get going
Johan ter Horst is aiming to be back in action before the end of the month.
Maidstone’s summer signing from Hull is ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery – good news for boss Jay Saunders, who is still without Jamar Loza.
The striker has thrown himself into life at the Gallagher and can’t wait to show team-mates and supporters what he’s all about following the end of his Premier League dream.
Ter Horst, 22, said: “The shoulder is progressing well. I was originally looking to be back around the start of September but it could be the last week of August.
“I feel good. I’ve been joining in at training and doing all sorts of running so my fitness levels are up and I’m strengthening the shoulder at the gym.
“I’ve been to all the games. It’s frustrating watching because you just want to get out there.
“Joining a new team, you want to show the players that you can play football and you want to get stuck in but you can’t because you’re injured still.
“I’ve been impressed, though. We’ve been unlucky in the first few games but the beauty of this league is you’ve always got another game around the corner.
“Just looking at the results you can see anyone can beat anyone in this league. I don’t think we need to start worrying yet or anything.”
Ter Horst sat in the stands as United lost to 2- 0 to Leyton Orient in front of more than 5,000 at Brisbane Road.
He’d have loved the chance to play in front so many people – but his time will come.
He said: “There’s loads of big teams in this league so it’s big games every week and even at home we get 3,000, which would probably be the most I’ve played in front of, so that’ll be great to get out there and play in front of all of them.
“But you’ve got your Leyton Orients and your Hartlepools and it’s good to play at those sort of places.”
Ter Horst dislocated his shoulder scoring for Hull in an under-23s match against his boyhood club Charlton.
The Tigers took care of his operation before releasing the former Folkestone youngster after three years on Humberside.
Ter Horst, who never made a first-team appearance for Hull, said: “I scored a diving header at The Valley in my last game for Hull.
“I’m a lifelong Charlton fan and all my family were in the stand celebrating but I was on the floor rolling around trying to put my arm back in.
“Hull were good in that they sorted it out for me and I had the operation pretty much straight away.”
Saunders moved for ter Horst following his release and the forward has no issue with dropping back into non-league.
He said: “I didn’t have options to stay in the Football League.
“Clubs were put off a bit by my shoulder injury but Maidstone have been good.
“Jay knew me and they’ve got me on a contract where I’m not earning a lot but once I’m back fit, I get my full wages and it’s good for both parties.
“I fully appreciate that this is a good level. No one really classes academy football as proper football but I’ll be glad to get out and play men’s football again and have three points on the line.”