Sheppey striker Jake Embery believes he’s playing the best football of his career.

Embery is on his fourth club this season after stints at Carshalton, Faversham and Herne Bay.

He’s confident he’s found the right move in the Ites, who will only benefit from the strides Embery has made in his game.

A prolific first spell at Herne Bay earned a move to the National League with hometown club Maidstone nearly four years ago.

His goal record at Winch’s Field caught the eye but there’s a lot more to him these days.

“I feel at this moment in time I’m probably playing the best football I ever have - easily,” said Embery, 23, who scored his second Ites goal in a 4-1 derby win at Sittingbourne on Tuesday.

“My overall game has been so much better than any other years.

“When I went to Maidstone, I was very raw.

“I was scoring a lot of goals at Herne Bay but my overall play wasn’t that good. I knew that myself but I was a lot younger then.

“My overall play, my hold-up play, has come on a lot in these past few years, although I haven’t scored as many goals.

“Ultimately, that’s what you’re judged on but I just think with a run of games the goals will come.

“I’m not one to dwell on goal records. I don’t get a lack of confidence. I always know they’ll come if I keep doing the right things.”

Four clubs by Christmas isn’t ideal but Embery is a genuine victim of circumstance.

He joined Carshalton expecting to be the main striker but found himself out of favour and left in search of regular football.

He got that at Faversham but had no interest in staying once dad John Embery and Jermaine Darlington were sacked as joint-bosses.

A return to Herne Bay followed only for another managerial departure to get in the way, with Ben Smith leaving soon after.

“People say to me, ‘This is your fourth club this season’ but it’s all been situational,” said Embery.

“Carshalton promised me the world, promised me I’d be starting.

“I thought I had a really good pre-season, I scored a few goals, and then a new striker comes in and plays.

“I wasn’t playing, so I wanted to go and play.

“I went to my dad at Faversham, started well and scored, but he got sacked and I didn’t want to stay in those circumstances, and then Herne Bay was just ridiculous.

“Ben had wanted to sign me for ages, and then he left after a week-and-a-half.”

Embery was contacted by Sheppey assistant boss Jono Richardson, a former Sittingbourne team-mate, and was soon on his way to Holm Park.

It’s been an ideal move with Embery in the same team as Connor Wilkins, Brad Schafer and Josh Wisson, having all grown up playing youth football together at Bearsted.

The forward likes what he sees and believes Sheppey are well-placed to kick on in the second half of the Isthmian South East season.

They host Ashford on Monday (3pm), buoyed by their big win at Sittingbourne.

“I’m enjoying it here,” said Embery. “I’ve got a lot of my mates here, which always helps. There’s a good buzz.

“Sheppey had a lot of success last season. They’re a club that are set up to keep going higher.

“Facilities-wise, they’re top-drawer, they’ve got good backing and good fans.

“It’s a good club - very good - and a lot of people say the same. It’s a very good side on paper, too. There’s a good blend of experience and younger players.

“A bit of gelling and we’ll get there.

“We’re in mid-table and if we stick around there and build on that, we could have a good push at the end of the season.

“It’s a very tight league. No one’s running away with the league, or running away with the play-offs. Bottom two aside, it’s a bit of a free-for-all."