Ebbsfleet United have today signed Dagenham & Redbridge defender/midfielder Jake Howells on loan, with the deal lasting until the Margate match on Easter Monday.
Howells, 25, is an adaptable player who can operate at left back, left midfield or in the centre. He spent nine years at Luton Town, achieving 300 appearances for the Hatters before the age of 23. Having played in the Football League with them, he helped guide the Kenilworth Road club back there, winning the Conference title in 2014 under John Still.
He was reunited with Dagenham boss Still in January, signing an 18-month contract at Victoria Park, after leaving Eastleigh where he played alongside Andy Drury (as he did in Drury’s two spells at Luton).
Fleet boss Daryl McMahon told FleetOnline, “Jake can play full back, left mid and centre mid, he’s a good age and comes with a really impressive pedigree. He was at Dagenham and I spoke to John Still about him and with the situation we’re in with a couple of injury doubts, I thought he’d be a good one to bring in.”
Jack Connors has a hamstring problem going into a period where Fleet play three games in eight days, while Andy Drury and Anthony Cook (illness) are also battling for fitness so Howells (who played against the Fleet four times for Luton) will go straight into contention for a squad place on Saturday.
Jake Howells (far right) playing at Stonebridge Road in August 2012
