Jack Payne is enjoying his football again after cementing a place in the Ebbsfleet United engine room.

The former Gillingham midfielder's first season at Stonebridge Road was interrupted by injury and he barely featured at the start of this campaign.

After starting just one of the Fleet's first eight games Payne joined National League rivals Eastleigh on a month's loan.

He quickly won his place back upon return to north Kent and has been ever-present under new Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill.

"It's been good," Payne said. "I've come back and played every minute, which is what I wanted to do.

"To be fair I didn't play a lot of games last year. There was always a doubt whether I was going to come back with my knee but I knew I was fine - it had all been ticked off by the specialist.

"It was hard, the gaffer (Daryl McMahon) brought some more midfielders in so we went with them but it happens and I'm big enough to say 'I can go out on loan, I want to play'. I could have sat here if I really wanted to and just waited but that's not me.

"I need to go and play, I'm not happy when I'm not playing. I needed to get games, I have and I've come back playing every minute and I'm enjoying it at the moment."

Payne's shielding of the back three or four is allowing the likes of Andy Drury and Ebou Adams to get higher up the pitch and influence games. Payne's now the regular corner taker too and his set-pieces always give Ebbsfleet's big men a chance to go and attack the ball.

Payne said: "The gaffer just told me sit in there, get on the ball, break things up and take set-pieces and stuff like that. I'm really involved at the moment and it's good, I'm enjoying it.

"It helps when the team is winning games and we're on a good run at the moment so we need to keep it going.

"Different managers have different things they want to implement on their team. The gaffer's got his own ways and what he wants to do. It's different to other gaffers I've played for in the past but it's working at the moment so we've got to keep buying into it and doing it."

Hill would like to add to his squad but the fact he was able to make five changes and still beat Eastleigh 3-0 on Saturday speaks volumes for the quality at his disposal.

Payne said: "We're a tight-knit group to be fair. There's 18 of us and it's a good group to be in.

"There's experienced players and some young players but everyone has played at a level so they know what needs to be done and I think that's showing at the moment. Everyone's taking responsibility out on the pitch.

"I don't think teams will be looking forward to coming here. The pitch is getting a bit cut up, we're a physical side and we can play so I don't think teams will want to come and play here."