Ebbsfleet's Dean Rance will be fighting fit at the start of next season – but he’s not prepared to settle for a place on the bench.

The midfielder’s been plagued by injuries this term and he needs a minor operation to shave a bone growth off his ankle.

That means he won’t play again this season and although Rance has another year to run on his contract, he’s concerned about the playing time he’ll get in 2015/16.

Unanimously voted player-of-the-year by his team-mates 12 months ago, Rance has started just 17 league games this season and he faces stiff competition in central midfield from mid-season signings Stuart Lewis and Theo Lewis.

Rance said: "If I’m not going to be playing every week I don’t want the security of another year.

"I’m not a player who’s going to sit there and be happy to pick up my wages. I want to play every week.

"I’ve had two or three good years but this year’s been frustrating, with injuries.

"I don’t want to be sat on the bench all season, I want to feel like I’m involved.

"I feel like I’ve got a big part to play at this club, to help get them promoted – and I have been told I’m in the gaffer’s plans for next season.

"No-one’s guaranteed a place. If you’re playing well enough, you deserve to keep your shirt – and that should be the case.

"If I get a chance and play well, I think I deserve to keep my shirt. It should be done on performance and I hope it will be."

Read the full interview in the Gravesend Messenger.