Garry Hill has backed Gozie Ugwu to score 20 goals in the National League this season.

Ugwu rejoined Ebbsfleet this week having twice played for the club on loan before.

He also worked under manager Garry Hill at Woking in 2016/17, scoring 17 league goals in 43 appearances.

Hill said: “I’ve always got a very good response out of Gozie Ugwu.

“When he was at Woking he got 20 goals for me in a season and I think he’s capable of getting 20-odd goals this season again if he stays fit and gets the service.

“He’s a good size, he’s very mobile, he’s strong and I think he’s been well-received by the supporters at Ebbsfleet when he came in on loan.

“I think they liked his work-rate, his aggression and his power. He had an opportunity in that short stay and it’s given him an insight of the football club going forward where he can hit the ground running quite early.”

Ugwu, who was released by Chesterfield at the end of a stop-start season, revealed how the move came about.

He said: "I think the ending (to the season) I had at Ebbsfleet really helped.

"Prior to that, there wasn’t much going on but once the season ended there was interest straight away. It was just about filtering out who was serious and who wasn’t and working it out through the summer.

"Ebbsfleet’s interest was there from the start. Looking at all the different offers I received, Ebbsfleet seemed to tick all the right boxes.

"I still had questions regarding what happened last season but that’s the past and they’re in a good position right now.

"Everyone has those thoughts but the club reassured me and I have every faith in Abdulla (Al-Humaidi), the gaffer and Dave (Archer) that the club’s in a stabilised position now.

"Once I had that confirmation, it was an easy decision."

Ugwu, who was also loaned out to Boreham Wood last season, will be hoping for less upheaval this season and more game time.

"Garry Hill played a big part in me coming," he said.

"Everyone knows I worked with him before (at Woking). Towards the end of last season I worked with him again and I’ve done well at all times.

"That was a big factor - and just the way I felt at the club.

"When I came to the club at the end of last season, I enjoyed my football a lot more and that was a big factor towards it as well, the way the fans received me, my relationship with the gaffer, the players and all of those things were a catalyst for me making the decision to come to Ebbsfleet."

Ugwu's career has already taken him from Reading to Dunfermline and back into the EFL with Yeovil and Wycombe.

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He said: "I’m 26 now, at that middle stage.

"With my experience and the stuff I’ve gone through in football, I know that if I’m somewhere I’m comfortable and enjoying it, that will show when I’m on the pitch.

"That was my main concern, to be settled on and off the pitch, with the fans and the club, the gaffer and the board.

"I feel settled with that so with those aspects I can enjoy it a lot more. If I’m enjoying it, I know it will show on the pitch.

"As a striker, confidence is a massive thing. I look back at my time at Woking and I wasn’t confident going into that season but playing in that team, with the gaffer reassuring me, it grew as the season went on.

"By the time I hit October, November time I was raring for it and from then I went on to do what I know I can do.

"Confidence is a massive thing for me and having that reassurance.

"I know the gaffer has faith in me but he can only do so much. It’s up to me now to go on the pitch and do what I need to do.

"He’s put his faith in me and I’ve got to repay him now, work my hardest, like I was trying to do at the end of last season. If I put in the work, the luck will follow."

Ugwu and Hill certainly seems to be a partnership which works.

"Garry’s got good man-management skills," said Ugwu. "He knows what I’m like.

"I guess every player would like to have an arm round their shoulder but when I’m not putting it in, a kick up the backside won’t hurt.

"I’m not someone who can’t take criticism, I’ve dealt with it more than anything in the past so it’s just having that middle ground and once you’re there and scoring goals, any striker will tell you that you feel that confidence stepping onto a pitch."

Ebbsfleet start pre-season training on Saturday with their squad a long way from complete.

Hill admitted: “On numbers, we’re very low – about nine at the minute – but we’re still at the end of June.

“There’s a lot going on and it’s about being ready for August 3 and being very competitive.

“My position is trying to pick, with the financial structure we’ve got in place, the right players to come in. It is a complete rebuilding of a new squad.

“I expect all the contracted players to be there at 9.30am at the training ground on Saturday although one phone call can change the position very quickly.”

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