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Ebbsfleet United boss Garry Hill would like to make one or two new signings

Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill would like to add to his squad having let four players leave in the last three weeks.

Kenny Clark, Luke Coulson, Darren McQueen and Sean Shields (on loan) have all departed since Hill replaced Daryl McMahon in the dugout.

He’s brought in striker Cody McDonald and is hopeful of making further additions.

Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill Picture: Andy Jones
Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill Picture: Andy Jones

Hill said: “The squad is as low as it can be. We’re down to 17, which suits us at the present time.

“We are allowed to fetch players in if the right player’s out there. We have to see how that goes between now and January, monitoring different situations with players.

“You have to assess football players in respect of what’s available. It’s not a case of fetching a player in to add a number.

“If we find the right player, we’d like to increase certainly by one if not two. But they’ve got to be better than what we’ve got or be effective in the squad.

“The squad was surplus – staff and players – when you think eight have gone and only one has come in.

“But it’s not made us weaker. If anything, we’re stronger as a tighter group because everybody knows it’s the way forward.”

Ebbsfleet host Dagenham in the FA Trophy first round on Saturday. Both sides are in great form in the National League, with Fleet unbeaten in eight while Daggers have won four of their last five.

Hill said: “We’ve got momentum with us. We’re playing with a certain amount of confidence and belief.

“The FA Trophy is the FA Cup of non-league football and we’ll approach that game in a way to hopefully continue the success we’ve had.”

Hill and assistant manager Ian Hendon have hit the ground running at Ebbsfleet, taking 11 points from their first five league games.

Fleet have only conceded one goal during that run, a defensive record matched only by Liverpool across the top 18 division since Hill was appointed.

"I think we've done very well," said Hill. "We're top of the current form in the country.

"We're solid defensively. I was made aware that when we came here, we'd played well in certain games and not taken our chances but we have been getting a few goals recently.

"We got four against Halifax, we scored two at Aldershot and hit the woodwork three times and we won on Saturday.

"We're quite happy. The commitment and attitude at training's been very good, the performances have been consistent and the results have gone with it.

"We couldn't have asked for a better month."

Cody McDonald was Garry Hill's first signing as Ebbsfleet manager Picture: Sean Aidan
Cody McDonald was Garry Hill's first signing as Ebbsfleet manager Picture: Sean Aidan

Ebbsfleet's recent performances are reflecting Hill's ethos as a manager and he added: "I think the results reflect on that as well.

"We're playing a little bit different, pressing higher up the pitch and the commitment and consistency of performances and results has been encouraging.

"Michael Cheek's come in from the cold, so have Jack King and Lawrie Wilson and they've come in as three fresh players.

"Michael Cheek's getting goals at one end of the field and Cody's come to the club so that adds competition.

"He's well known in this area and there's his relationship playing in the same team as Danny Kedwell down at Gillingham.

"That's three good forwards for this level.

"In midfield, we're starting to get a good balance now where (before) we had too many wide players.

"Defensively, I know we let Kenny Clark go but we've got Jack King, Dave Winfield, Sam Magri and Chris Bush, who can all play in the central positions.

"We're comfortable where we are at the moment."

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