New signing Sam Magri has two huge incentives to start his Ebbsfleet career with a bang.

Magri, a full Malta international, is in line to play against England and Scotland in a World Cup qualifying double-header in September.

Malta host England on Friday, September 1 before taking on the Scots at Hampden Park three days later.

Magri has started two of their last three games in Group F after stepping up from the under-21s.

The 23-year-old said: "My grandad’s Maltese so I’ve got a bit in me. In the five games I’ve played, I’ve learnt a lot and we’ve got England and Scotland in September, which should be good.

"I want to do well for Ebbsfleet but I’ve got Malta as well so that means I need to be keeping fit and playing well."

International commitments will clash with club fixtures but he said: "That was spoken about and Ebbsfleet are happy and prepared to support me in that. That means a lot."

Portsmouth-based Magri went to school with Fleet keeper Nathan Ashmore and was impressed when he met boss Daryl McMahon.

He said: "He’s young and ambitious. Ebbsfleet got promotion last year and speaking to some of the players I know there, they seem ambitious again this year. It should be an exciting season.

"They’re full-time and train in the mornings. That was a big part of why I was interested.

"It’s nice to feel wanted by someone, that much, to get it done that quickly.

"Me and my missus have got a place and I haven’t been getting paid for a couple of months so it’s been a little bit of a struggle. It’s nice not to have to worry about that any more."