The man who got Chamal Fenelon’s career back on track believes Lewes will have a great player if they nurture him correctly.

Fenelon scored his first Blue Square premier goal for the Rooks in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at home to Salisbury.

It marked the 25-year-old’s full debut for the club and was accompanied by a performance which offered plenty of encouragement on an otherwise miserable day for Kevin Keehan’s men.

Fenelon’s troubled background has been well-documented. He served four years and eight months of a seven-year prison sentence for attempted murder before being released in June 2005.

He had been about to launch a professional career at Millwall when he was convicted following a brawl in a Crawley street.

When he came out of prison Fenelon played for a few County League sides before settling with division three Pease Pottage under manager Bob Laundon and sidekick Bob Booker, Albion’s reserve team boss.

The striker scored 26 league goals as Pottage won promotion in 2006-07 and Laundon always believed he would go on to bigger things.

Fenelon played for Horsham (twice), Havant and Waterlooville and Chichester on loan before linking up with Lewes in the summer.

Laundon, who is now manager of Seaford, said: “When Cham came to me I helped him in a lot of ways. I explained to him he really needed to stay at a club for a whole season rather than continually falling out with people and jumping ship.

“Bob (Booker) worked hard with him too and we got the rewards.

“I am really pleased he has now got an opportunity at Lewes. He is a raw talent, a great lad with a heart of gold.

“If you give him time and a bit of encouragement he will deliver for you.

“Defenders don’t like playing against him because he causes them problems.”

Lewes manager Keehan is fully aware of what Fenelon is capable of. The player knows he could be in and out of the side this season, when Lewes are expected to struggle, but Keehan believes he has a lot to offer.

He said: “Chamal gives us something different. He is big and strong but he can be frustrating as well.

“We are trying to get him to have a little more vision going backwards, just to lay it off.

“When I did my homework about him prior to signing him it was a question of everyone saying to me if you get him right he is a League player but the question is can you get him right? I have got to keep working with him.”

Fenelon drew Lewes level against Salisbury with a chip over the goalkeeper from ten yards after holding off his marker.

It was a smart finish, even if it surprised the player himself, but now Fenelon hopes it can kickstart a rush of goals.

He said: “I was pleased with my goal and quite surprised really because I don’t normally do those pretty finishes. I normally just hit it as hard as I can.

“Craig (Richards) played the ball down the line, I saw the keeper off his line and thought I would try it. I didn’t actually see it go in but when I turned round it was in.

“It was a pleasant surprise to be told I was starting but a challenge as well. I knew 90 minutes would be hard work, especially at this level, because I hadn’t played 90 minutes since March. I could have had two goals because I had a chance to make it 2-2 and got a bit excited but that will come.

“Hopefully I will get opportunities this season and I will score more goals. It is all about taking your chances when they come.”