Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon has insisted he will manage striker Darren McQueen properly on his return to action.

McQueen impressed on his first Fleet start in the 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night since picking up a serious knee injury last September.

He was substituted midway through the second half and McMahon, who is thrilled to have him back, will ease McQueen back into the fold after such a lengthy lay-off.

“We have to manage him as well, we can’t ask him to run before he can walk, but I thought he was superb and a threat all night,” said McMahon.

“It’s great to see him out there. He has the one thing that everyone’s scared of – pace, and he’s got it in abundance.

“It’s great to see him walking out of the changing room and to give him a high five on the way out – it’s been a while.

“I wasn’t intending to play him but he was so good in training on Monday that we had to unleash him and let him go.”

McQueen nearly made the perfect return after being put through inside the opening minute by Danny Kedwell, only to fire his effort over the bar.

“I fancied him (to score),” admitted McMahon. “I’ll watch it back on the video but I thought he could have let it come down a little bit more. He probably had more time than he thought.

“When you’ve been out for 10 months you snatch at things sometimes but he’ll score goals, there’s no doubt about that.”

Fleet signed striker Michael Cheek from Dagenham two days before the start of the season for an undisclosed fee.

As far as McMahon is concerned, that’s his work done in the transfer market for the foreseeable future.

“We won’t bring anybody in,” he stated. “Nobody will be leaving the club, we’re strong at the minute and want to keep the squad together.

“Injuries happen across the season so you need a strong squad in this league and we have got one.

“Cheeky has been good. He is ready to go, he is still getting to know everybody but he’ll be a big player for us.

“I’m sure he’ll get goals for us this season, and his record tells you that.”

Read the full story in Thursday's Gravesend Messenger