Maidstone United manager George Elokobi provides injury update on summer signings Ruben Carvalho and Jamie Yila

Maidstone manager George Elokobi says summer signings Ruben Carvalho and Jamie Yila won’t be rushed back from injury.

The pair were in the crowd on Saturday, as United started the National League South season with a 1-1 draw at Hemel Hempstead, but are unlikely to feature imminently.

Elokobi wants to ensure they are right rather than risk further damage by bringing them back too soon.

“Ruben, in the first friendly, did his hamstring and that’s been slow, and we have to be mindful,” said Elokobi.

“He’s not fit yet, nowhere near fit yet, so we have to make sure we take our time.

“It’s a marathon season, not a sprint, and similar to Jamie Yila. Everyone’s going to play a key role when they’re ready.

“These boys have been positive, the medical team and the sports science department have been working with them and hopefully we’ll see them, not too soon, but at some stage we’ll see them.

“We don’t want a repeat of last season where players come out and they end up back in worse situations than they were the previous week.

“So we have to look after both of them, Ruben and Jamie, but it’s important they were there on Saturday.

“They’ve always been part of the group and it was good to see them supporting their team-mates and being part of the squad.”