Herne Bay player-manager Liam Friend hopeful long-term attacking target Emmanuel Robe can hit ground running ahead of Isthmian South East match against high-fliers AFC Croydon Athletic

Liam Friend is optimistic new Herne Bay recruit Emmanuel Robe can hit the ground running.

The French forward made his Bay bow off the substitutes’ bench as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Isthmian South East leaders Three Bridges last weekend.

Herne Bay missed out on Robe when the 23-year-old briefly turned out for Isthmian Premier Hashtag United last year. He has since played for Sittingbourne and last turned out for another of Bay’s divisional rivals, Merstham, last month - ironically in a 5-0 defeat at Three Bridges.

“We tried to sign him in the summer but he went to the league above,” revealed Bay player-manager Friend. “That one came about late last week.

“He’s an exciting and attacking player. He was disappointed, by the time he came on, on Saturday, we had put a lot into the game and we were probably a bit over-reliant on him to provide a spark.

“He’s a good player. He has already scored some goals and got some assists at this level.

“Hopefully, he can hit the ground running.”

Robe was part of a strong Herne Bay substitutes’ bench at Three Bridges, which also included unused defender Joe Alatise, fit-again midfielder Harvey Brand and forward Steven Townsend.

Friend said: “It was a strong substitutes’ bench, although it didn’t manage to change the game. Sometimes, it does and, sometimes, it doesn’t.

“But now we have got that strength-in-depth, it’s up to us to navigate it properly. Harvey Brand came back and we have missed him.

“Kamani [McFarlane] had his first start in a long time and he looked rusty. He had one chance that, normally, he would take - but it was probably closer to the corner flag.

“We weren’t happy with the result on Saturday but there were some positives to take.”

Herne Bay were beaten by Three