Jamie Slabber is back at Sutton United and the striker is desperate to score the goals that fire them to National Premier.

The former Bromley man has signed on loan from Hemel Hempstead until the end of the season, although he admitted he could have been a United man from the start of the season.

However, Slabber, who scored 13 goals for United in the 2013-14 season, has been in good from for National League South rivals Hemel hitting 14 goals in 21 games.

But with Hemel stuck in mid-table, the club and Slabber finally gave in to United boss Paul Doswell’s persistence.

Slabber said: “When I was at Bromley, Dos was always saying whenever you want to come back I will take you back.

“I left Bromley in the summer, and it slipped my mind to ring Dos.

“I knew the Hemel manager anyway, because I used to play with him at Grays, and so I went there.

“Ever since, Dos has been on at me, ‘Do you want to come back? When are you coming back?’

“Eventually they agreed a loan to the end of the season.”

He added: “It’s a critical point of the season, and the way Dos is looking at it is that if we get any sort of injury, he wants to be able to replace quality with quality.

“Hopefully we can still catch Ebbsfleet, if not then the next aim is the play-offs, but we’re all striving to catch Ebbsfleet.

“We want them to slip up of course, but more importantly we have to concentrate on ourselves – which is what the lads have done all season so far.”

Slabber may have only been away for less than two seasons, but he admitted that his first training session on Tuesday was an eye-opener into how much has changed.

While he knows stalwarts including Simon Downer and Craig Dundas, Slabber has been impressed with United’s form and knows he needs to work hard to get into the front line.

“The United squad is unbelievable, it is that good,” he said.

“Dos said he wanted me because I can score goals, but I have to work to get into the team. “They are doing unbelievably well, Dan [Fitchett] is banging in the goals, and if Craig [McAllister] can get back, he’s a top player, and then there is Dundo, and if not him, then there’s Bedsi [Gomis] who can play in the hole.

“Dos has so many options, but he knows if I get in the side I will do what I do and that is score goals.

“I have been at this level for so long that I know how to score goals, and hopefully I can do that for Sutton and give them the push that they need.

“But to be honest it is all about winning and it does not matter where the goals come from.”

He added: “I really enjoyed my first training session. It’s good to be back.”