Jack King has spoken about his return to the Ebbsfleet side after being left 'out in the cold' by ex-manager Daryl McMahon.

Centre-half King signed in the summer and played the first 11 games of the season but was axed after Fleet's 4-1 drubbing at Wrexham.

He spent the next month out of the squad and never played another minute of league football under McMahon.

King said: "It was obviously tough to find myself come out of the team. I think I played every minute until the Wrexham game.

"Wrexham was poor but I didn't think my form warranted being dropped.

"Everyone was poor. I had a poor game and I had no complaints with being dropped but I found myself out of the squad.

"As a footballer, all you can ask for is to be told what's happening and that wasn't really the case.

"I had no problem with being dropped after Wrexham but nobody really spoke to me after that. I was out in the cold for a good while.

"I was still putting in every effort in training, as I always do, but what can you do as a footballer?

"It's never nice knowing that no matter how you train, you're not going to be playing. That's never a good situation, especially being out of the squad.

"Sometimes I wasn't taken to away games and a lot of these games I was watching from the stands.

"I'm 33, I'm not getting any younger so I don't want to be sitting in the stands or sitting on the bench.

"It does affect your week but I like to think I was professional throughout. I always worked hard in training, I kept my head down and my chance has come now so I've got to take it."

King was brought straight back into the squad when Garry Hill was brought in to replace McMahon and within 10 days he was back in the team.

Since then the former Preston man has been a rock at the back, mixing no-nonsense defending with careful distribution as Ebbsfleet's defensive record has improved.

They've only conceded one goal in five league games since Hill took charge.

King said: "It's always nice to keep a clean sheet but it's not just the back four, it's down to the whole team.

"The gaffer's come in, it's a different way of playing, a different approach to the way we're defending and it's been fairly good recently.

"Everyone's on the same page. We're not trying to play out from the back and we're not trying to over-complicate things.

"We're getting up high, giving the midfield and forwards a chance to press teams and it's been working for us. We're not messing around.

"It's not been the prettiest at the back but that's probably why we've not conceded so many sloppy chances and goals.

"I don't think we've conceded many more than two or three goals in the last six or eight games and if we can continue that, it gives us the base to push on. With the players we've got, we're always going to create chances."

King, who played for Hill at Woking, is relishing his second chance at Ebbsfleet.

He said: "The gaffer coming in has given me a fresh start and hopefully I've repaid him with some good performances.

"You've just got to wait for your chance and bide your time so that's what I've done. Hopefully I can remain in the team until the end of the season.

"You've got me, Michael Cheek and Lawrie Wilson all coming into the team from being out in the cold.

"Cheeky didn't have many minutes and the same with Lawrie but it's a long season. Everyone has different opinions and there's injuries and different things bring you into the team.

"When you get that chance, it's up to you to take it and the gaffer's big on that. He doesn't care who's on the bench or who's coming back fit, if you've played well in the previous game you'll keep your shirt and I think that's how it should be."