EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Liam Daish expects to complete the signing of striker Raphael Nade this week.

Daish has verbally agreed a deal with the 26-year-old Frenchman, who spent last season at Weymouth.

Nade, who started his career in England with Welling before joining Woking and Carlisle, previously played alongside Ebbsfleet striker Chukki Eribenne with the pair’s goals helping Weymouth earn promotion from the then Conference South.

"Raphael knows the league and is experienced, but at the same time he is the right age for us," said Daish. "He’s got pace, is strong in the air and I think he will be a good asset to us.

"He will provide us with something a bit different to what we have already got."

Nade has been out of the country on family business but Daish, who is looking to replace last season’s departed leading scorer Charlie MacDonald, was expecting to finalise the deal when the striker returned to Kent.

The players returned to pre-season training last Wednesday and Daish says Nade will have to work hard to reach the expected fitness levels.

He said: "He is moving into the area and that shows that he is willing to get his head down and work.

"Raphael has got a lot of work to do when he gets here as he is a few days behind the lads’ fitness levels."

The former Coventry defender says the first few days’ pre-season training have gone well with the club set to play their first friendly against Welling on Tuesday.