Ramsgate manager Matt Longhurst is looking forward to seeing what new recruit Will Hoare can bring to his high-flying team.

Former Crystal Palace youngster Hoare moved back to England after three years playing professionally in Sweden for fourth-tier side Skellefteå. He made is debut for the Rams on Tuesday night in their Kent Senior Cup match with Hythe.

Longhurst previously worked with the midfielder at East Grinstead but kept him on the bench last Saturday as his men dealt with an aerial battle against Faversham, a game the Rams won 3-2.

Longhurst said: “He is a 5ft7in centre midfield player and we just thought that most of the play would be in our box trying to win headers and that is not what he is good at.

“He is such a good footballer, he suits what we do. I knew he was coming back from Sweden and said we were trying to do well, he came and looked and watched some of the kids stuff and said it was perfect for him.”

Ramsgate are back in league action this Saturday at home to Herne Bay, a side sitting just outside the play-off places.

Longhurst’s side overcame a good test at Faversham, one which wasn’t easy on a tricky pitch.

His team were regularly tested with long throws into the box, as expected, and the manager made changes to counter it, bringing in the likes of Ben Fidgett to add a physical presence.

Longhurst said: “We usually pass it to feet but the players had to adapt, we didn’t try and play, you couldn’t.

“But we were giving away throw-ins and they threw it into the box continually and fair play to them, that is something they have in their armoury and on their pitch you are going to have to use it.”

Faversham twice went ahead early on, the first from the penalty spot and the second as a result of a long throw. At the other end Callum Peck twice got on the end of crosses to make it 2-2 at the break.

The manager added: “Our goals came from making opportunities and it wasn’t easy on that pitch.

“You could have asked ‘can we go to those kind of places and still win?’ We have. Whitstable wasn’t great and that was better than Faversham.

“We have made sure we have a squad where we can have different styles and play on different pitches and fortunately the chairman has backed me so we could do that, that has been a plus.”

Ramsgate lost their midweek game against Hythe. Ashley Miller’s opener for the Rams was quickly cancelled out by Hythe’s Riley Alford and it finished 1-1. Hythe won 5-4 on penalties.

Josh Ajayi featured in that match and continues to attract attention after a trial with Tottenham although Longhurst admits the player hasn’t been at his best recently, leading to being substituted in the last two league games.

Stevenage, Peterborough and Cambridge have also shown interest in the former Crystal Palace player. Another Premier League scout was expected to watch him on Tuesday.

Longhurst said: “It is not easy at the moment, his head is on, he is fully focused, but it must be in the back of your mind that clubs are watching. We have given him the opportunity not to play but he is 19 and he is desperate to play. We just hope he can go out and perform.”