Herne Bay boss Ben Smith on potential of French forward Emmanuel Robe ahead of FA Trophy home tie against Southwell this weekend

Boss Ben Smith believes Herne Bay forward Emmanuel Robe is capable of playing higher-division football.

Robe, who will turn 24 in December, starred with two goals in Bay’s last competitive fixture - the 3-1 Isthmian South East derby success at Deal Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Smith has been impressed with the Frenchman, who also plays in the televised indoor Baller League competition, since he returned to the Winch’s Field hot-seat.

“He’s Jekyll and Hyde,” said Smith. “The lad could end up on the circuit - or he could go through the levels.

“He has so much ability. What I’ve loved about him, since the second we took over, is he’s just willing to learn.

“I don’t think we saw the best of him over the [Bank Holiday] weekend where he was a bit hampered by injuries.

“But he found a way to produce for the team so credit to him. He showed real character to even be out there on the pitch.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He has got a long way to go to get to where I think he can get to.

“But he certainly has a lot that he can bring to the table.”

Robe has already played for Sittingbourne, Hashtag United, Chipstead, Dulwich Hamlet and Aveley, as well as abroad in Greece, Cyprus and Canada, but looks like he might have found a club he can settle at in Herne Bay.

Smith said: “He has got the ability to go higher than where he is but that will only come where he is consistent.

“He’s a player, on his day, we think is a handful. But he will come to a stage where he won’t be on such a hot streak.

"Can he still be reliable? That’s a question I had for him when we first came through the door.

“So far, we’re on a really good path with Robey - as we are with a few players - in terms of how they play.

“Someone said to me we’re