New Fleet striker Michael Cheek believes he can play alongside – rather than instead of – captain Danny Kedwell.

Ebbsfleet paid an undisclosed fee to lure Cheek from National League rivals Dagenham last Thursday.

Kedwell played almost every minute of Fleet’s campaign last season but, having celebrated his 35th birthday last week, many expect Cheek to ease him out of the team.

Cheek, however, believes the pair could team up and work well alongside each other.

“It’s not so much get him out of the side,” claimed Cheek. “I think we can work well together.

“I can learn a lot off him, as probably he can me. We’ll take each game as it comes now and move forward.

“There’s loads of quality and depth to the squad. There’s so many good players here and hopefully we’ll be up there at the end of the season.”

Cheek turned down a move to Ebbsfleet in January, opting instead to see the campaign out with Dagenham.

But Cheek had no hesitation in making the switch to Stonebridge Road when the Fleet came calling for a second time.

“Once I talked it over with my missus it was clear that I had to go to Ebbsfleet,” said Cheek.

“I know things at Dagenham aren’t the greatest at the moment and I feel a bit selfish to leave but in the end I think I’ve made the right decision.

“Things are hard at Dagenham but I think they’ll be okay. Peter Taylor is a good manager and hopefully they’ll do well.

“Up until Tuesday or Wednesday I’d played most of the pre-season games and I’d set my sights on leading the line for Dagenham. All of a sudden it happened so quickly and here I am now.”