Maidstone United manager Craig Fagan tells young striker Mark Boruk to model his game on Jamie Vardy

Craig Fagan believes teenage striker Mark Boruk is close to joining the party as competition for places at Maidstone increases - telling him to play like Jamie Vardy.

Boruk, 18, made a big impact after breaking into the side under former boss George Elokobi at the end of last season.

He was linked with a move to Championship club Blackburn before signing his first Stones contract over the summer but has barely featured in the opening months.

Boss Fagan wants Boruk to concentrate on his strengths - seeing him in the mould of ex-Leicester striker Vardy - and not let speculation or team-mates’ attributes negatively impact him.

“Mark’s trained well and he’s going to be putting pressure on the other forwards,” said Fagan, whose National League South leaders visit Torquay on Saturday (3pm) and host Kent rivals Ebbsfleet on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“Sometimes with attention, you tend, as a young player, to believe the hype a little bit and go away from what brought you joy.

“Mark saw Ken Charles come into the building and then he was trying to do what Ken was doing in terms of hold-up play. But Mark’s not that. Mark’s a runner in behind.

“I keep telling him, Jamie Vardy, that’s what you should be doing, running in behind, getting goals off the shoulder and being competitive.

“He’s started getting back to that in training and he scored for the under-23s, which is good.

“He needs to play football as well, and then learn off the other strikers in a different way.”

Charles enjoyed a prolific pre-season and started the National League South campaign with four goals in the opening seven games.

He hasn’t found the net in seven appearances since but Maidstone’s No.9 still brings a lot to the table.

Stan Leech’s arrival on loan from Dagenham