Manager Andy Drury is delighted to have brought goalkeeper Amadou Tangara to Margate.

Gate start their Isthmian Premier campaign at home to Kingstonian this Saturday with a new man between the sticks.

Margate last week, perhaps surprisingly, let Ben Bridle-Card go before bringing in Tangara.

“Amadou became available. I think he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the league - if not the best,” Drury explained.

“He’s very tall, commanding, a good leader, good with his feet and good coming off his line. So he’s got everything you need as a goalkeeper.

“That’s nothing against Ben Bridle-Card.

"But when an opportunity, in my opinion, to improve the team comes up, then I will take it.”

Margate were again forced to name several trialists as they continue to battle injuries, especially in defence, as they ended their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 victory at Sittingbourne on Friday.

Drury concedes he may need to bring more players in this week with Lewis Knight, Taylor Fisher and Peter Ojemen among those carrying knocks.

Speaking on Monday, he said: “We are looking at one or two areas that we might try to get cover in terms of injuries.

“We are just waiting on a few [injury] reports and then we will just take it from there and see what we are going to do in the next week or two.

“But I’m happy with the squad we have got. It’s got some experience in it and some youth as well.

“But now, it’s about seeing where we can add to it.”

At Woodstock, Margate led when a trialist - due to remain with the club this week before a decision is made on his future - netted in the ninth minute before an own goal gave them a second after the restart.

Drury said: “In the couple of games before that, we have been unlucky in terms of the injuries we have picked up.

“We were just trying to work with a couple of niggles, we still had five out against Sittingbourne and Chatham.

“It’s a bit of a juggling act. Obviously, you want to win games of football, but you want most of them to be fit for the first game of the season.

“It was a pleasing result against Sittingbourne, a pleasing performance and a good dress rehearsal.

"It could have been more as well, but it’s something to build on.”

Having played the night before, Drury then watched Kingstonian take on Merstham at the weekend - Kingstonian winning the game 2-0.

Drury feels playing The Ks will help gauge where his squad is at, saying: “We know how they will play, so we will be prepared, and the boys are just desperate to get going.

“They are always up and around the top eight usually.

"So I feel it’s a good game to have, first game of the season.”

Margate hit the road on Tuesday night and will visit James Collins’ Bowers & Pitsea.