Josh Scott feels he will be fit enough to line-up for Daggers at Macclesfield on August 6

Dagenham & Redbridge front-man Josh Scott marked the end to his frustrating seven-month spell on the sidelines with a goal to secure a 2-2 draw at Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old striker was ruled out for the second half of last season with a blood clot on the lung after it was initially thought he was suffering from pneumothorax - a build-up of air between the chest and the lungs.

His last outing for Daggers was a 25-minute substitute appearance in a 1-0 home defeat by Rochdale on January 8, but his 10 minute cameo at Stonebridge Road this week is the latest landmark on his road to recovery.

Scott fired in the equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game and now hopes to be fit in time for the start of the new season to give Daggers fans a further boost.

“I think I’ll be ready for the first week of the season,” he said.

“Obviously I need to play a few more matches to get match sharp, but running wise I’m nearly there, I’m just a bit behind everyone else with the football.

“It felt brilliant to be back out there. I didn’t touch the ball during the game, but it was good just to get the goal at the end. It was only a little run out today, I’m going to play 45 minutes on Thursday (v Billericay Town) and hopefully be involved on Saturday.

“I’ve come off my medication now, I’ve still got a few more tests to run to see if there are any irregularities, but at the moment it’s all good.

“The worst bit is behind me and hopefully there’ll be nothing serious that can keep me out any longer.”

Following the final day defeat to Peterborough last season, Daggers boss John Still highlighted the long-term absence of Scott as his side’s ‘biggest blow’, hoping he could build on the 14 league goals that had helped the side win promotion the year before.

And Scott admitted his manager’s support had boosted his confidence throughout the agonising lay-off.

“It did give me a big lift,” revealed the former Hayes & Yeading forward.

“I was down and obviously not playing, it was a bad time for me, so to hear that meant a lot. I need to come back and prove him right.

“I want to score as many as possible and hopefully be Dagenham’s top goalscorer this season, that’s my plan.”