Michael West finally returns for Ebbsfleet on Good Friday after more than 12 months out with a knee injury.

The 24-year-old, who had multi-ligament reconstruction surgery exactly a year ago, is set to play some part in both of the Fleet’s games over the Easter weekend.

Fans’ favourite West, who rejoined the club from Crewe last January, was just 12 games into his return when he suffered serious knee damage at Whitehawk on March 15 – ironically the club he could now face in his first game back.

His targeted Christmas return was delayed by an asthma-induced chest infection but now West is ready to prove he deserves a new contract at Stonebridge Road.

West said: "I’ll be over the moon to kick a ball again because this was a career-threatening injury.

"To have two ligaments done and coming back, being OK, back at Ebbsfleet, I’m delighted. The club have looked after me so well and now I want to repay them.

"I’ve been doing all right in training. I was on the end of three or four challenges. It’s good that it happened.

"It’s more of a mental barrier and how you react and I got straight back up."

West resumed full training last month after his latest health complication.

He said: "It wasn’t my knee, it was a chest infection that held me back, fitness-wise. The doctors gave me three special inhalers to kill it off.

"We were coming into December and I thought I might be all right by Christmas but the surgeon said 12 months (for my recovery) – and here we are.

"I’m out of contract at the end of the season so hopefully I can impress in the last six weeks.

"I’d love to stay here but I haven’t thought about that too much. I just want to get back out there and do what I do best – score goals."