Charlie Dickens has become the latest player to team up with Clive Cook at Canterbury City.

The midfielder, previously of Ashford and Harlow, signed for the club on Monday after spending last season with Ramsgate.

He is now available for selection ahead of City's Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division opener at home to Welling Town on Saturday.

City boss Cook said: "He's a holding midfielder. He's a big lad, he's strong, he's only young at 22 which is the right age for us.

"It was the piece of the jigsaw we needed to cover, he's athletic, he's good in the tackle and ticks all my boxes.

"He's a really nice lad and will fit in really well."

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City are set to be missing Jordan Wright at the weekend, although Cook is confident he possesses the strength in depth to deal with absences.

He added: "He's a flair player and we'll miss him like you would miss any good player.

"The way I've built the squad is that if one does come out we've got a replacement who is just as good so it doesn't faze me in terms of where I think we need to be Saturday."

Excited by the return of competitive football, Cook is expecting his side to be tested when they visit newly-promoted Division 1 champions Welling.

"They're a little bit of an unknown," he said.

"I've watched them and they're new to the league, they'll be up for it. The manager is experienced and they've got some good players so we've got to be at our best to get anything from the game.

"They're a dangerous side, they're very quick and very athletic. It's a tough first game but I do feel every game is this season.

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"There will be 22 managers saying like I do that they want to be involved in the mix at the end of the season, everyone says that otherwise you wouldn't be in football.

"I think they (Welling) could possibly be there, I think we could be possibly be.

"Nobody has got any divine right to be in the mix, it's a marathon not a sprint. It's a long season and that's why you need the strength of a squad.

"The first game is always a tough game and it's always nice to chalk points on the board to get you running. I'm expecting a tough game."

Cook has also named Callum Emptage as his captain for the season after signing the former East Grinstead skipper earlier this summer.

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