Ebbsfleet United have signed striker Norman Wabo on loan from Southend United until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old front man has been impressing in the League One side’s U23s this season, having scored 16 goals in 17 games.

He signed his first professional deal with the Essex club last summer, with an option for a further year and has been at Roots Hall since the age of 15, after being scouted playing in an Essex county game. He made his full first-team debut for Southend earlier this season against Scunthorpe United, featuring again since the New Year against Northampton Town. Last season Norman spent time on loan at Cambridge City, scoring four goals in five matches for the Evo-Stik Southern Premier side.

A very direct striker who was also prolific for Southend’s U21s in 2016/17, he has pace, is very fast and quick-thinking on his feet and likes to attack defenders. Southend U23 manager Kevin Maher said of the player: “Norman has got a knack. He pops up and he’s flying at the minute and, as long as he keeps getting opportunities, he seems to be taking them.”

Fleet boss Daryl McMahon will include the player in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Leyton Orient and said, “As I’ve maintained, we wanted the right player either permanently or on a loan deal until the end of the season and Norman is a bright prospect. We’ve looked at a lot of players who fit the bill and he now has the chance to show what he can do here at a good level.”

Norman will wear squad number 23, recently vacated by Bradley Bubb.