New loan striker Gozie Ugwu will make his Ebbsfleet United debut in the Blue Square Bet Premier home game against struggling Alfreton at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

The transfer deadline day signing from Reading has been recruited as cover for injured Michael West, who is due to undergo a hernia operation.

The 19-year-old Oxford-born striker is a graduate from the Reading academy and turned professional in the summer.

Fleet boss Liam Daish (pictured), who admitted he has never seen the youngster play, said: "We signed him on Thursday, as there was an opportunity to get somebody in due to Michael’s injury.

"He has come on the recommendation of somebody at Reading whose opinion I respect and it was done very quickly, because I was told there were several Conference clubs chasing him. He will be with the club initially until March 3."

Midfielder Ram Marwa is still recovering from a knee injury, while long-term casualty Giannoulis Fakinos is also recovering after season-ending knee surgery in his native Greece.

Alfreton arrive still in the bottom four, despite some improved results, and Daish said: "It’s another massive game against a side below us in the table and we want to win to push us further away from the teams below us in the table."