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Sport

Ebbsfleet United striker Gozie Ugwu delighted to team up with his former Woking manager Garry Hill

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 00:00, 14 March 2019

Gozie Ugwu is relishing the chance to play for Garry Hill again after joining Ebbsfleet on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old scored 17 goals in the National League for Woking two seasons ago when Hill was in charge at Kingfield.

It was the most prolific campaign of Ugwu’s career with Hill getting the best out of the former Yeovil and Wycombe striker.

Gozie Ugwu played against Ebbsfleet for Chesterfield on the opening day of the season Picture: Andy Payton

He said: “It’s good being able to work with him again.

“Working with him at Woking, I had success personally, scoring quite a few goals and he saw that I could come here and help the team out.

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“I’m looking to take the opportunity and I’ll try to push the team on.

“It’s important having a gaffer that believes in you and knows your style of play.

“As the games went on, my confidence grew and once I got the first goal, it was like a flood. They were coming from then until the end of the season.

“Garry saw that in me and he influenced it in a way to give me confidence. Once strikers gain confidence, they’re different players and I think he knew that.

“For me, to have someone pushing me, who knows what I can do, it’s up to me to go out there and prove it.”

Ugwu got his first taste of men’s football at Ebbsfleet back in 2011/12 while he was a youngster on Reading’s books.

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He impressed on his second debut, having a hand in two of Fleet’s three goals against Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

Ugwu said: “I was looking to get a goal to cap it off but I was just happy with the three points and to play my part in some of the goals.

“I started off trying to get in behind but as the game went on, I felt myself getting more comfortable, getting hold of the ball and being able to run at players.

“I probably should have scored but getting opportunities like that is what I’m here for. As the games go on, I’ll be putting them away and definitely causing teams trouble.”

Ugwu has already played against Fleet this season for parent club Chesterfield and Boreham Wood, where he was on loan until last week.

“It was a quick one,” he said when asked how the move to Stonebridge Road came about. “It happened overnight.

“Boreham Wood were looking to send me back to Chesterfield but with my past history with Garry, he knew what was going on and he reached out to me.

“Within 24 hours I was here and I was happy because I saw it as another opportunity. I was happy to come here and play some games.

“My season’s been a bit stop-start but I’ve just looked to push on and take each opportunity when it comes.”

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