Ebbsfleet United defender Luke O’Neill says majority of National League sides could cope with demands of League 2

Ebbsfleet defender Luke O’Neill believes the majority of National League teams wouldn’t look out of place in League 2.

The 32-year-old defender has spent most of his career in the Football League, most notably playing for Southend, Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon.

“I think most of the teams in this division wouldn’t be out of place in League 2 - it’s just more direct in League 2,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a massive difference.

“I’ve played at this level before many years ago when I was at Mansfield, and the level is good. I don’t think there’s much difference from this division to the one above.”

O’Neill enjoyed a title-winning campaign in his first season at Ebbsfleet and is loving his football at Stonebridge Road. He left Stevenage to make the move to the Fleet.

“I’ve played in the Football League,” he added. “I wanted to be closer to home and I wanted to be happy, with a good group and good staff.

“I’m happy here and I’m enjoying my football which is the most important thing. I believe in the team, I think everyone does right from the top. We’ve got to keep doing well.

“I think it’s the people, I’ve got a great relationship with the manager and the players, Damian Irvine is brilliant as well. The fans have been brilliant to me since I’ve been here and I love playing football here.”

Fleet boss Dennis Kutrieb is keeping any targets for the season to himself, but O’Neill believes they are good enough to aim for the top seven.

“We want to finish as high as we can,” he said. “Me, personally, I want to get in the play-offs, minimum. We’ve just got to keep ticking away.

“I believe in the squad and I know all the boys do, we had a fantastic season last year and we’ve just got to keep going this year.

“I knew a lot of the