Leiston manager Glenn Driver is expecting latest signing Dominic Docherty to cause a stir at Victory Road next season.

The 22-year-old midfielder has elected to join the Blues on a two-year deal, having joined Isthmian Premier Division rivals, Lowestoft Town, in January, following four years at Lynn University in America.

He is going to be the surprise of the season,” said Driver, who has also brought in Docherty’s former Lowestoft team-mate Rob Eagle in recent days.

“Myself and Tony (Kinsella) have done a lot of homework on him and we are looking forward to working alongside him this season.

“He is an all-round central midfielder, really athletic, who gets round the park really well and can see a pass.

“He came back home from America and I think Lowestoft were keen to get him on a contract, so we are glad to have got him here.”

A former youth team and reserve player at Lowestoft, Docherty scored once in eight appearances for the Trawlerboys and impressed Driver during Town’s Suffolk Premier Cup final defeat to Needham Market earlier this month.

“We watched him at Colchester in the Premier Cup final and had a really good game that night. He wants to progress and he is another youngster who, at 22, represents what we are trying to do at the club,” added Driver, whose side just missed out on a Ryman Premier play-off place last season.

“We did not really have that physical side in midfield last season.

“We had the likes of Byron Lawrence, Gareth Heath and Patrick Brothers who are all excellent on the ball, Gareth would win his fair share of tackles, but Dominic is six-foot three or four and, looking at this league, I feel we need that kind of presence.

“I am sure he will work well with Rob Eagle, who has a lot of experience.”

On signing Docherty for Lowestoft in January, Trawlerboys manager Ady Gallagher said: “He played youth and reserve football for the club in the past but after his time in America, it’s now about him adjusting back to the standard of football at this level and the early signs are good.”