Matt Fish expects Ebbsfleet United to join Gillingham in the Football League by 2018.

The full-back joined the Fleet from Gills earlier this month and made his debut for the Vanarama Conference South club at Sutton United on Saturday.

Having spent three-and-a-half years at Priestfield, Fish believes the foundations at Ebbsfleet are sufficient to see them become Kent's second Football League club sooner rather than later.

He said: "Within three years, I reckon they’ll be in the League.

"With the training ground, the plans for the new ground and the players the gaffer’s brought in, it’s only going in one direction.

"I’d heard about the set-up down here and the manager (Jamie Day) coming here. I know about the gaffer and the job he did at Welling. He’s young and enthusiastic and wants to play football.

"Obviously the club’s got massive ambition and they’re going in the right direction. Hopefully, with the signings the gaffer’s made, we can get out of this league."

Fish last played non-league football with Dover when they, too, were a Conference South club.

He said: "I played under Hessy (Andy Hessenthaler) when we came second and then lost in the play-offs. With Martin Hayes, I played 50-odd games that season and we had a good run in the FA Cup.

"I know the league and we’ve got more than enough quality to get out of this league – and possibly the league above as well."

Fish admits joining Fleet feels like the start of a new chapter in his football career.

He said: "I’m 26 now so I feel like I’m a lot more experienced, a lot older and a lot wiser than when I was last in this league.

"Gillingham helped me massively with my career. Hessy and Darren Hare helped me a lot as well.

"I feel a lot more grown up and I’m just happy to be playing."

Ebbsfleet are away to Braintree Town in the FA Trophy third round on Saturday.