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Dartford FC winger Luke Wanadio explains why he returned to the club this summer

06:00, 05 July 2019

updated: 07:45, 05 July 2019

Luke Wanadio believes he can score and create the goals Dartford need to challenge for promotion this season.

The returning winger can’t wait to link up with fellow new signing Darren McQueen in a new-look Darts attack.

Wanadio was a big hit with supporters during his first spell at Princes Park and is hoping to pick up where he left off.

Luke Wanadio's last game for Dartford was the play-off semi-final in 2017 Picture: Andy Jones
Luke Wanadio's last game for Dartford was the play-off semi-final in 2017 Picture: Andy Jones

“Everybody knows what I bring to a team,” he said. “Last time when I was here I got 13 goals and a number of assists so I don’t think I need to prove anything.

“I just need to enjoy my football again and you’ll see the benefits. The goals will come, the assists will come and hopefully we’ll go up.

“With the signings we’ve made, it would be stupid if we’re not challenging at the top end of the table.

“You look at the players who are here from when I was here and they’re still good players.

“If we can get Billy Crook fit, that’ll be massive. Luke Allen’s a good signing and so is Jordan Wynter.

“I think Macca is a big signing because Macca will score goals. If me and Macca can link up how me and Duane (Ofori-Acheampong) did when I was here, you’re looking at 20 goals between us.

Luke Wanadio celebrates a goal during his first spell at Dartford Picture: Andy Payton
Luke Wanadio celebrates a goal during his first spell at Dartford Picture: Andy Payton

“I’m excited to see where we can go next season.

“Dartford will never concede a lot of goals with Tom Bonner, Josh Hill and Ronnie Vint as their three centre-backs.

“It’s just scoring goals which was the problem last season. They’ve brought me and Macca in and that brings goals in so I think we’ll be challenging at the top end.”

Wanadio moved from Bromley to Aldershot last summer but only started 16 games in the National League and finished the season on loan at Dulwich Hamlet.

“I didn’t have the best of times,” he admitted. “It was mentally draining more than anything.

“In the season at Dartford, I played 53 games and the season at Bromley, I played 51 games so going to Aldershot I thought would be a good move because they’re a big club.

“But I didn’t really enjoy it so I was speaking to Adam Flanagan from January and I still have a good relationship with Tony Burman.

“There was a chance of me coming back on loan in January and it didn’t quite work out so we spoke in the summer.

“I had quite a few offers in Conference South but I said to Flans that if I didn’t stay in the National League, the only team I was coming back to in the South was Dartford.

“I had a good relationship with the fans when I was last here and if you want to progress, like I did before, it’s a good club to be at.”

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