Craig Tanner is the perfect fit for Ebbsfleet, according to manager Dennis Kutrieb.

Tanner’s silky skills and clever footwork cutting in from right to left have been a key ingredient to the Fleet’s impressive start to the campaign.

“He is an outstanding baller,” enthused Kutrieb. “When you give him the ball you can expect something special and even when it’s not special he doesn’t make big mistakes.

“I think I saw over 90 minutes (last Saturday) one and a half mistakes where he could do better and that’s the reason why we brought him in. For us, in our team, he is a perfect fit and a piece of the puzzle that we wanted to have.

“We really pushed to get him in here, he is what we needed, together with Marts, with Rakish, with Dom, with Paxman and Alfie - I can tell you so many names. He is a perfect fit for us and I am so happy because I am a fan of our team as well.

“Of course, I am the manager but I want to see good football and when I see some things that work out I am even more happy.”

Tanner was one of the first players that caught Kutrieb’s eye when he arrived in England – and he checked in again on the 26-year-old former Reading forward.

Fleet’s season might have curtailed in February but Tanner returned from injury in April and made 10 outings for Aldershot.

“It was a pre-season last year, it was the first or second game that I saw him for the first time,” recalled Kutrieb.

“Then in post-season, I watched games in the National League and saw him again. In between then he was injured for a long time so we need to manage him well as well because I want to have him in a good mood and without big injuries.

“In that first game, he caused Bobby-Joe Taylor big problems, got an assist and everything he did on the ball was good. He was moving all the time and from there I saw he was a good player and that he understands the game.

“That’s the most important thing, that he understands the game and that’s what you need when you have a good squad. You need to have players on the pitch who understand the game, which side you can overload, which side can be a threat and this is the case for him.

“I’m happy that he is there because when a team is vulnerable, he sees it straight away and goes for it.”

Ebbsfleet, who were held to a goalless draw at Chelmsford on Monday after Dominic Poleon missed a late penalty, host Havant this Saturday.

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