AARON Couch has gone back to square one in a bid to breathe new life into his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.

The 21-year-old rejoined Marlow on Tuesday after a morale-sapping experience at AFC Totton and hopes the step back will lead to a stride forward.

He said: “I just want to get my name back on the map again. I want to get my name out there again because there were a few professional clubs looking at me last year but it’s gone quite this year.”

Twenty goals for Marlow last season earned Couch a trial with QPR at the start of the season, while Tranmere and a few Bluesquare Premier clubs were also watching him.

When nothing materialised he moved to AFC Totton instead but has been a bit part player and dropped off the scouts’ radar.

He said: “QPR were going to be in touch with me again in January, but because I was on the bench at Totton I didn’t hear anything.

“I started 12 games there and scored seven goals, but they were playing me out of position and my confidence was well low.”

The final straw came last Tuesday, when he spent three hours driving to Cinderford and was rewarded with a substitute’s appearance one minute from the end.

He said: “They told me I was in the squad but that’s all I got. My feet were freezing, I think I put one cross in and to be honest my heart wasn’t in it any more after that.”

Couch contacted Marlow last weekend looking for a way back and, with Totton’s agreement, signed for the Southern League Midlands outfit without the need for a seven-day approach.

He said: “I’m glad to be back. The boys made me feel welcome on Tuesday and just that was good for my confidence.”

However, Marlow boss Kevin Stone says it might take a bit time to get his winger flying again.

He said: “He’s been sat watching most of the season and isn’t the same boy that left us. He came on with 20 minutes to go against Slough on Tuesday and looked very low on confidence.

“He was down and quiet, and there were one or two situations in the game that the old Aaron would probably have made a bit more of.”

And Stone has warned Couch that, with Jermaine Roche, Yash Romeo and Jon Case around, he might not walk straight back into the team.

Stone said: “I don’t know if I can play them all, and the three boys that started against Slough played very well. We’ll have to see but Aaron does make us stronger as a squad.”

Couch’s experience has echoes of Marlow top-scorer Jermaine Roche.

After blasting in the goals for Blues he was snapped up by Windsor & Eton but he never settled there and is now back at Oak Tree Road scoring for fun.

It’s in defence were Marlow are short though, and as well as Couch Stone has also signed Tom Willment to bolster that department.

Willment signed from Burnham and repaid Marlow’s faith immediately with a volleyed equaliser in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Slough.

Stone said: “He is a 21-year-old old-fashioned centre half. He likes to kick it and head it away and has done well for us.”

Marlow host Woodford tomorrow aiming for their first league victory since December 5.