By Andrew Gidley

Maidstone are looking for a striker to help ease their lack of early-season firepower.

Joint-bosses Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume are endeavouring to find the missing piece of the jigsaw but know forwards come at a price.

Hume (pictured) said: "We are trying to find the right centre-forward who fits the way we want to play.

"We are talking to clubs but finding the quality player we need for the money we have available will be difficult.

"They are a highly-priced commodity and all strikers have their price."

Hume also admits he and Walker are still striving to find the best formation that suits Stones.

He said: "We have switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 already this season and could swap things again at the weekend. We want to make sure we maximise our potential in every game."

Another blow for the Stones is the continued absence of Meschach Nugent, who is facing a lengthy lay-off after damaging ankle ligaments at Waltham Abbey earlier this month.

Nugent missed most of pre-season with hamstring trouble and Hume said: "He will be out for at least four weeks and it will be another month before he will be match fit."

Stones face Tooting at Ashford tomorrow (Saturday) and travel to Canvey Island on Bank Holiday Monday.