Febian Brandy can’t wait for his first taste of non-league football after signing for Ebbsfleet.

The 28-year-old joined the club on Monday following the news that fellow striker Darren McQueen will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Brandy, who began his career at Manchester United, is an England youth international with Football League experience at Swansea, Gillingham, Notts County, Walsall, Sheffield United, Rotherham, Crewe and Rochdale.

Life in the National League will be a new challenge and Brandy is up for it.

He said: “The lowest I’ve played is League 1 but the level in English football is changing and improving. This is a good standard.

“I’ve always thought non-league football’s a good standard. You see players coming from non-league and going to Championship or Premier League teams so I’ve never looked down on non-league, not at all.

“I did my research about Ebbsfleet. I looked at the football and they play the way I like, on the floor, pass it, movement and we all came to an agreement that it would be a good fit.

“I’m a northern boy from Manchester and I had teams up north saying they wanted to sign me but the style of football didn’t suit the way I play.”

Brandy’s last club was Ubon UMT United in Thailand.

He said: “Playing-wise it was decent but in countries like that, it can get a little bit political. For my own safety, it was best to come back to the UK.

“I don’t think I’ve got a point to prove at all.

“One of the main factors that sold it to me was the gaffer (Daryl McMahon). He’s young and he’s got ambition.

“I spoke to Aaron McLean and he told me a bit about the club and the potential it’s got. It’s better than some League 1 clubs, the set-up and the training facilities. It’s going the right way and that’s what sold it to me.”

Brandy hasn’t played since April but he’s set to be involved at Sutton on Saturday.

“Each day I’m getting fitter,” he said. “I’m trying to get my body in the best shape I can to be ready for when the gaffer calls me.”