Michael Standing has a point to prove after finally signing for Lewes.

The 27-year-old midfielder has agreed a one-year contract with the Rooks ahead of their debut season in Blue Square premier.

He teams up with his uncle, Kevin Keehan, at the Dripping Pan after completing a switch from Grays Athletic.

Standing was once the golden boy of Sussex youth football, playing and scoring for England schoolboys at Wembley.

He was rated the better prospect as he and Albion Centre of Excellence pal Gareth Barry headed off to join Premiership side Aston Villa.

But while Barry has gone on to become an England regular and a £15million target for Liverpool, Standing’s career has been largely unfulfilled.

He has been cursed by injuries during a career which began at Villa Park and took in four other League clubs before dropping into non-league last season.

His talent has never been in question but luck and opportunity has not been on his side.

Now Standing is ‘back home’ and ready to prove the doubters wrong.

He said: “The most important thing for me is to play games and stay fit.

“For the last few years I have been signing short-term deals and even people who know I can play wouldn’t touch me because I have not stayed fit long enough.

“I have been to see someone in Brighton and have been fit for the last six months. Hopefully it now can be a springboard for me to show everyone I am fit, I am going to stay fit and hopefully we will have a good season.”

Standing’s name was linked to Lewes as soon as Keehan took over but the player took some convincing before agreeing to sign.

The capture of players like Scott Taylor and Danny Cullip, plus the Rooks’ performance in a 1-1 draw with Albion on Saturday, persuaded him it was the right move.

Standing said: “I am pleased to be joining.

I must admit when Kev took over I didn’t think there would be any chance I would be coming but the way it has taken shape and the way the side is starting to look now I wanted to be part of it.

“Obviously Kev is my uncle and that is a big reason, I want to come and help him.

“We want to play the right way and we will have a decent side. I have played with Scott Taylor before and he is a very good player. The likes of Danny signing will make a big difference and the youngsters here are better than people give them credit for.

“Most of the boys are local lads which Kev wanted and there is a good team spirit.”

Standing failed to make a first team appearance for Villa despite being named in the squad for a Premiership match with Everton at the age of 17. The former Blatchington Mill pupil joined Bradford in 2002, making 30 League appearances before playing 52 times for Walsall. He later had brief spells with Chesterfield, Bournemouth and Oxford before joining Grays.

He had other offers this summer but after training with his new team-mates he is relishing the challenge ahead.

Standing said: “I am enjoying it and I haven’t enjoyed it for a couple of years. I spoke to a few League clubs but they weren’t right for me. This is ideal, it is the first time since I was 16 I am back home and I am really looking forward to the season.”

Lewes have also confirmed the signings of Craig Richards and Danny Davis, who have impressed in pre-season.

Defender Richards is a former Southampton trainee who arrives from Salisbury while one-time Albion midfielder Davis returns to Lewes from Horsham.

Keehan has also had a chat to trialist Zac Beda who is keen to sign.

Former Dover and Horsham YMCA goalkeeper Dean Ruddy will get a runout in tonight’s friendly at Burgess Hill (7.15) when Cullip and Standing are set to make their debuts.

Shaheen Sadough has left the Hillians for YMCA.