Hayes & Yeading manager Garry Haylock believes goalkeeper Charlie Burns can fill the void left by Dan Lincoln after his promising debut against Hemel Hempstead.

United offered Lincoln a contract extension that would have made him the highest paid player at the National League South side, but he rejected the deal and is expected to join a division rival.

Burns was signed as his replacement on loan from Championship MK Dons in January and the 20-year-old made some excellent saves during his first start for the club, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

That incredibly remains the only fixture the club have played since December of last year due to wet weather as Saturday’s game with Wealdstone became the latest victim of the rain.

Haylock revealed how the club had been weighing up a number of options but they had opted for Burns on the advice of Dons’ assistant manager Richie Barker.

He said: “I know Richie Barker well and made quite a lot of contacts, having worked in the football league the past few years.

“I always knew I wanted to go back into management and that they would come in handy.”

The Hayes & Yeading boss admitted he would be willing to look at extending the loan until the end of the current season if Burns performs well in the next few fixtures.

He added: “He made two or three great saves. He’s really young so I am a bit wary about his kicking, but he looks a very good player. He came in for a trial and at the moment it looks like a really good deal. On the whole it looks like a decent move and financially it is a much better option for us.

“On his first performance you would have to say yes we are looking at extending his loan, but he might be awful for the next three matches.

“You can’t judge these things after one game so we will have to see how it goes, but we do have other options and the chances are so will he.

“MK Dons will look at it from their point of view as well, whether they need to recall him, so it is dependent on the circumstances for each party.”

Meanwhile, United have added to their ranks again this week with the versatile Jordaan Brown signing upon his return from playing in Norway.