Jayden Davis feels ready to start games for Maidstone United - but says the team comes first.

Davis scored his first Stones goal after coming off the bench against Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

The midfielder’s strike gave Craig Fagan’s side late hope before Fleet completed a 3-1 victory in added time but the quality of his finish showed what he’s capable of.

Davis has made 12 appearances since his summer move from Eastbourne Borough but only two of those have been starts after suffering early-season hamstring issues.

He’s 100 per cent fit now, though, and ready to help the team in any way he can - whether that’s starting or as a substitute.

“I’d been struggling with a few injuries but I feel like I’ve put them behind me now,” said Davis, a former Millwall academy player, who made six appearances for Crawley in League 2.

“It was a bit stop-start but I’m hoping that’s that now and I can really push on. Whenever the manager needs me, I’m ready, but the most important thing is the team winning.

“Everyone wants to start but I’m a team player and I want the best for the team. So if that means me coming on and not starting, or it does mean starting, I’m happy to do whatever.

“If I’m on the bench, I have to make an impact when I come on.”

Davis’ 83rd-minute goal against Ebbsfleet, in front of a packed Genco Stand, has given him a taste for more.

The Maidstone crowd played a big part in his move to the Gallagher Stadium and he’s keen to deliver for them.

“I’m happy to get my first goal but obviously it would have been better to get the win as well,” said Davis.

“I’ve played here a few times in the past and I think it’s an outstanding club. I love the fans, especially.

“Every time I’ve played against them, it’s been a tough game, so when the opportunity came to play for them, it was pretty much a no-brainer.

“Scoring that goal was a good feeling. It’s made me want to do it more and more. Hopefully that’s just the first of many.”

Maidstone find themselves in third place going into tomorrow’s home game against struggling Slough.

They’d been top since beating Weston on September 5 but slipped a couple of places after losing to new leaders Ebbsfleet.

Stones boss Fagan said there was no need to be disappointed at being knocked off the summit and Davis agrees.

“It’s a long season,” said Davis, a National League South play-off winner with Braintree two-and-a-half years ago.

“We would have liked to have stayed top for the whole season but sometimes teams that win the league haven’t been there the whole time, so I don’t think any of the boys are looking into that.

“We just have to take it game by game. If we’re top after the 46th game, that’s all that matters. The league’s very tight as it is.”