Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright hailed the performance of the returning Mustapha Olagunju in their New Year’s Day defeat to Dagenham.

Olagunju marked his 23rd birthday by starting his first Fleet game since September, having completed a loan deal at Hemel Hempstead.

Wright disclosed that he was adamant Olagunju would be part of his plans once he took the job on, the Fleet boss clearly identifying the lack of pace in defence as an issue.

“Mussy was very good,” said Wright. “He just gives us that energy, the legs and athleticism at the back that maybe we’ve lacked of recent times.

“He was very assured, he played with an older head in terms of how he handled the ball when he got it, he was sensible with it and played when he could. If it had to go, it went. When a ball goes in behind, he’s got that pace to get back and make us a better (defensive) line. I was very pleased with him.

“I knew when his loan was up, and I wanted him back straight away from the minute I got the job. I’m a big fan and long may that continue.

“I looked at players we’ve got out on loan and other situations. He was someone that I wanted around and I had to wait a little bit of time but I thought he came in and did very well.

“I will keep working with Mussy, he’s a great lad and has a lot of learning to do but he’s a very good player.”

Wright also felt Tyler Cordner benefited from having Olagunju alongside him in defence.

“Tyler was superb,” added the Fleet boss. “We said that when we dissected the game. I thought he was very good in his all-round game, stepping in with the ball and getting tight to people and winning headers, being a man out there.”

Jack Wakely was due to feature on his return from injury but illness ruled him out, along with Tom Dallison.

Wright added: “Jack was going to be involved against Dagenham but he pulled out sick in the morning which I’ve had to deal with again.

“I lost three or four after I picked my team with people dropping out.”

Greg Cundle has returned from his loan spell at Maidstone but is currently sidelined through injury.

“I like Greg,” said Wright. “He’s come back with a slight issue in his groin that we’re trying to get to the bottom of. He’s back from his loan.”

Despite the positives in defence, there was still frustration from Wright that his team never got going against Dagenham until it was too late.

“It’s such a mindset of where they’ve been at and what they’ve been used to, the positions they’ve been used to on the pitch,” he added.

“It’s a habit, winning is a habit and losing’s a habit and we’re in a terrible habit at Ebbsfleet of losing. It’s trying to get that out of them, that’s why I need to get fresh bodies in with fresh minds that haven’t been feeling this low or sorry for themselves.

“It’s the belief, against Dagenham we didn’t really start playing until we went 2-0 down. Once we were 2-0 down, we started to look a good team.

“I know that’s frustrating for the fans to hear but we did, we started to create chances, get in areas in the box and cause them problems. One goal could have changed it but it can’t be when we’re 2-0 down before it changes, it’s got to be at 0-0 from minute one.

Read more: Ebbsfleet 0-2 Dagenham match report

“We’ve got to get in teams’ faces, we’ve got to start fast. They seem like they want to do it, they know they need to do it but for one reason or another with the mindset and the momentum we’re in they just can’t quite do it at the moment.

“We made it too easy for Dagenham to come here and get a 2-0 win. It shouldn’t be happening. We need to go through it but we can’t keep saying it. It’s now or never and it’s on us to sort it.

“There was an improvement in terms of scoreline but we have to have a lot more than that at home. No disrespect to Dagenham but we have to be asking a lot more, especially first half, fast start, energetic and enthusiasm.”