Stefan Vukoje has thanked Eastbourne Borough and their fans after battling back from injury and signing a new deal.

The former Albion youngster is on board for the new season, which starts at home to Chesham.

He signed for his former Seagulls under-18s boss Mark Beard last summer but missed almost all of the season with a serious knee injury.

Now he has impressed in pre-season and is looking forward to a campaign in Vanarama National League south which holds significant promise for Borough after their powerful end to last term.

Vukoje, 22, told ebfc.co.uk: “I’ve definitely come out of the other side better and stronger as a player and a man.

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself and different aspects of my game.

“It’s difficult being on the sidelines, always watching every Saturday instead of playing.

“Especially the last six weeks in pre-season, I’ve learnt a lot and I feel like I can fit right back into the team.”

Vukoje played in an under-18s side which also featured Haydon Roberts, Lorent Tolaj, Teddy Jenks, Antef Tsoungui, Ed Turns and Marc Leonard.

There was one particularly impressive night when Tolaj and Vukoje teamed up to great effect to secure a 3-2 win over Leicester City in the FA Youth Cup.

Vukoje set up both goals in the 2-1 win at Derby in the following round.

Since being released in 2021, he has had stints in Romania and Serbia.

But his ambitions were put on hold until reporting back for this pre-season.

He said: “I came back at the end of June and now I’ve got a solid five, six weeks of pre-season in me.

Full-time training every day has made me stronger and allowed me to get all the football aspects back in my head.

“I’ve seen improvements week in, week out.

“Throughout the last ten months, I was getting messages weekly from the fans.

“It’s so reassuring to have that support, especially being out that long.”

Having looked relegation certainties in early March, Borough took 22 points from their final 11 games, ending with a win at Braintree.

That sort of form alerted those looking for shrewd bets with regard to promotion and the play-off spots.

Maidstone, who reached the play-offs and had a memorable FA Cup run last season, appear to have attracted a lot of interest along with relegated clubs Dorking Wanderers and Borehamwood.