Michael Cheek feels he is fit and ready to make the move into the top flight of English non-league football.

Since starting as a youngster with Stanway Rovers in the Thurlow Nunn League, the 23-year-old striker has impressed while progressing through spells in the Ryman League with Heybridge Swifts and the Conference South at Chelmsford City.

He scored 32 goals in 66 games for the Clarets, but he now feels the time is right to make the final step and is pleased to have the chance to do so at Braintree Town in the Vanarama National League after becoming Iron manager Danny Cowley’s first signing this summer.

“It was either Chelmsford or Braintree for me this year,” said Cheek.

“I was weighing up the options, but I think I made the right decision in the end.

“I think I’m ready for the step up.

“It was going to happen sooner or later and I’m glad that I’ve done it.

“Fitness will be the main thing to get used to, but I feel as if I’m there now.

“I’ll see more in the game on August 8, but I think I’m ready for it.

“You can see from pre-season that Danny (Cowley) and (assistant boss) Nicky (Cowley) are very organised and they’ve been putting us through our paces.

“I struggled a bit at the start with the fitness work, but I’m fine now I’ve got into it.”

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