Epsom & Ewell boss Lyndon Buckwell has backed former striker Kyle Hough to shine at Walton Casuals, but hopes he has not seen the last of his talismanic frontman.

Hough fired 28 goals for the Combined Counties League side last season as Epsom threatened a promotion push for much of the campaign only to come up short.

And with the Stags swooping to snap up the striker, Buckwell admitted he had little choice but to let him go.

He said: “I would never stop any of my players from moving to a club at a higher level.

“I have known Kyle for a very long time and he is a quality player.

“He has been very loyal to both me and the club.

“He has seen a lot of his friends that are not as good as he is move to a higher level and now he wants to prove himself.

“There is no doubt he can play at that level - in fact I think he can go higher.

“But we will have him on dual registration terms, so if he is not playing for Walton he can come back and play for us.”

Epsom got their pre-season campaign under way last weekend with a 2-2 draw with Ryman Division One South side Chipstead, Robbie Burns firing both goals.

Buckwell fielded a number of trialists, and he hopes to have four or five signings in place for this weekend.

He added: “We put out two different sides in the game and I was pleased with the quality on show.

“The new players are blending in nicely and I think we will be a better side than we were last year.

“We have addressed the areas that were a concern, such as midfield, and I am very optimistic.”