Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb on Chris Haigh’s loan move to Oxford City
Published: 11:13, 04 July 2023
Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb has described goalkeeper Chris Haigh’s loan return to Oxford City as a good fit for everyone.
Haigh is back with Fleet’s fellow National League new boys, having helped them to play-off glory after joining on emergency terms in April.
The 26-year-old, who signed a new contract at Stonebridge Road is June, has returned to Marsh Lane on a season-long loan, although Fleet have a call-back option should they be without first-choice Mark Cousins.
“I think it’s a good fit for everyone,” said Kutrieb.
“Oxford were keen to get him back and we think it could be, in the bigger picture, a very good move for us as well to have a second goalkeeper who’s available for us if Cousins picks something up.
“We would literally have someone who is playing regularly and getting game time, not coming from the bench and not playing and then needs to make an impact for us.
“I think that’s perfect to play in the same league as us and be ready for us if we need him.
“I couldn’t ask for any more, to be honest.”
Cousins’ form in Fleet’s National League South title success means he’s the established No.1 going into the new campaign, opening the door for Haigh’s loan move.
Kutrieb added: “At this moment in time, we need to give Cousins the credit because we got promoted with him, he played many, many good games for us.
“I don’t know how many mistakes he made that we conceded from over the whole season - maybe one-and-a-half - but definitely not many and that’s why he deserves to be the No.1 but football moves so quick, everything can happen.
“At the moment we’re fine as we are and if you can have a No.2 who’s playing for a club in the same league on a weekly basis, that’s literally perfect for us.
“He (Haigh) will train with us and with Oxford and we’ll work closely together to make decisions on when it’s the right time to be with us and when it’s the right time to be with them. It will be a bit of both.”
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Craig Tucker