On-loan Maidstone United defender Liam Vincent returns to League 1 high-fliers Portsmouth

Defender Liam Vincent has returned to Portsmouth after his one-month loan deal with Maidstone.

Vincent, 19, joined on the eve of the season after United found themselves without a recognised left-back.

He started the opening-day draw at Altrincham but was taken off at half-time and made just one more appearance, coming off the bench in the 5-0 defeat at Wrexham.

Captain Gavin Hoyte has moved across from right-back to cover the left-back slot, with Jerome Binnom-Williams (knee) and Raphe Brown (ankle) sidelined.

Stones boss Hakan Hayrettin rates Vincent, who joined League 1 high-fliers Pompey from Bromley a year ago, but felt he needed more experience in his backline as Maidstone adapt to the National League.

“He did his best,” said Hayrettin. “At the end of the day, we went for more men than anything else and Liam’s a kid learning his trade.

“Would I sign him again? Yes, probably, but in a team that’s been established at this level a little bit longer.”

Vincent missed all of last season with a stress fracture in his shin.

He marked his first Pompey appearance by scoring a free-kick in a 3-0 pre-season win over Havant before linking up with Maidstone.

“It’s good for me to be out on loan and pick up some minutes and some game time,” said Vincent, after making his Stones debut in the 1-1 draw at Altrincham.