By Ben Reynolds

Worthing have signed striker Jake Hutchinson from Queen of the South.

The 22-year-old, a product of Colchester United’s academy, left the U’s last summer for a new challenge in Scotland.

He made 13 appearances last season before joining Sussex rivals Eastbourne Borough on loan for the second part of the campaign, where he featured 11 times.

Worthing manager Chris Agutter said: "We’re very pleased to welcome Hutch to Woodside.

"In short, he’s a goalscorer who has scored goals at a higher level.

"He’s another young and hungry player like so many more of our group that have the big potential to really progress upwards in the game."

The forward has also featured in the National League, spending the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Aldershot.

Hutchinson added: “Having played in the National League before, I’m certainly looking to get back there and Worthing is the perfect club for me to try to do that with.

"I just want to try to help the team as much as I can with goals and assists, and as a team, I think everyone knows the goal for us is to get promoted this year.

"I don’t think there’s any reason we can’t go and win the league.”