Ibby Akanbi feels he’s made big progress since joining Maidstone.

The six-goal striker has improved rapidly working under John Still and Hakan Hayrettin at the Gallagher.

Signed as a raw talent on the eve of the season, the 22-year-old forced his way into the starting XI and is now United’s first-choice striker.

Akanbi, who returned from a hamstring injury last weekend, said: “When I came in the gaffer said he saw something in me but felt I needed a bit of work.

“To be fair to John and Hak, they’ve given me game-time to show what I can do and I've taken it with both hands.

“There's a lot of pressure being the main man up front.

“I've just been working hard and listening to what the gaffer tells me.

“I'm really thankful for that because he's added bits to my game that I never had before, improving my game understanding, holding up the ball and bringing other people into play and it's starting to show.

“I feel like I'm starting to get better as a striker.

“I'm still not the finished article, I have to continue to get better, get sharper and get some more wins for the team.

“I'd say I'm 50% better than when I started here and sharpness is probably the biggest thing.

“That's come with game-time and being able to train full-time.

“That's made me a lot sharper and quicker mentally on the pitch as well in terms of improving my football brain.”

Akanbi knows he’ll have to stay on his game to retain his place in the side.

Ibby Olutade is due back from a prolific loan spell at Leatherhead while Jake Embery and Jonny Edwards are also vying for the lone striker role.

Matt McClure is another option to lead the line but he’s played almost exclusively behind the main striker.

“Competition is the way to get the best out of your forwards,” said Akanbi.

• Akanbi gamble pays off

“If there's no competition you get lazy as a striker, not consciously but subconsciously.

“If you don't feel there's much competition, you're not going to work as hard.

“Where there is so much competition everyone knows they've got to be on their game and it makes all of us better players.

“Ibby's gone on loan and scored 13 in 13 and Jonny and Jake are doing their bit.

“Nothing’s a given in our team because the managers tell you if you're not working hard, you're not going to play. They let you know.

“There's no room for comfort here - that's the best way to improve and it is improving everyone.”

Maidstone are eighth in National South - two points outside the play-offs - going into Saturday’s home game against Dorking.

Akanbi feels they are well-placed to push on in the second half of the season.

He said: “I think we're only getting stronger. Sometimes results don't always show it but I feel as a team we are playing a lot better than we did at the start of the season.

“Everyone understands their roles now, it's just little fine margins we just need to improve on.

“The Christmas period will give us a better idea where we're going to be come the end of the season.”

The good news for Maidstone is Akanbi is fit for the festive period having overcome a hamstring injury that forced him off in matches against Dartford and Blackpool.

He came through 90 minutes against Concord and was probably United’s best player.

Akanbi said: “I’m feeling good. It’s a tricky one with hamstrings because they can feel OK but you don’t know until you do a full-on sprint.”

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent