Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson has revealed centre-back Adam Thompson is likely to return this weekend as he bids to sort out his side’s defensive frailties.

Ks brushed aside Maidstone United 3-1 in the Ryman League Premier Division to move fourth in the table, but were edged out of the league cup with a 4-3 defeat at Walton Casuals on Monday.

Dowson’s side have won seven of their last ten league games to turn around their fortunes after a miserable start, but have kept just one cleansheet in that time.

Thompson has spent the last month on loan at Division One South Merstham in a bid to regain his fitness and the Kingsmeadow chief admits it is time he was recalled.

“If you’d had asked me after Saturday what my back four would be it would have picked itself, but after Monday it is clear things have got to change,” he said.

“We score goals by the bucket loads and are on a great run at the minute, but we still have the worse defensive record in the league. I feel a bit like Kevin Keegan at the minute from that point of view.

“That is what is stopping us being a top five side at the moment and if that doesn’t change quickly we’ll never get up there.

“A top five side wins games 1-0 and 2-0. You go back a long way to find our last cleansheet in the league. When I was at Walton & Hersham and got promoted, we had 17 cleansheets. That is where we need to be.

“Everyone knows what I think about Thommo. If he comes through training this week for us, he will play it is as simple as that. We have got to stop conceding goals.”

Bobby Traynor, Dean Lodge and Christian Jolley saw Ks claim three points at the weekend, before a Jolley brace and one from Lewis Cook proved insufficient against Casuals - for whom former Kingstonian men James Rose and Craig Lewington both netted.

Saturday’s triumph, rated by Dowson as the best this season, pushed Kingstonian up into the play-off zone - although others have games in hand thanks to cup commitments.

And the manager reckons it is a run of form that must continue against Tonbridge Angels this weekend.

“Maidstone hadn’t lost in five games until we played them. It is not the easiest place to go anyway, so I was absolutely delighted to get a win under the circumstances. It is our best result this season from that point of view, “ he said.

“Tonbridge’s results might not show it, but I think they are one of the two best sides in this league. They have got a couple of ex-Conference level players and have a good budget there.

“It is a massive test for us, but thankfully we’ve got a fully fit squad and Simon Huckle is the only one missing through suspension. We can give it a good go.”

Kingstonian’s next three games: Nov 14 Tonbridge Angels (h), 17 Boreham Wood (a), 22 Chippenham Town (FAT, h).