Craig Cloke has delivered a body blow to Dover Athletic supporters by revealing that he doesn’t expect to be able to return to action until the end of the year.

But there is good news on the transfer front after Whites signed midfielder Tom Davis from AFC Wimbledon on a one-year-contract.

Cloke, 24, has been sidelined since rupturing his cruciate and anterior knee ligaments in the 1-0 defeat at Hastings last September, and Whites fans had been hoping the centre-half would be able to make his comeback at the start of the season.

He dashed those hopes by saying: "When I had the operation in December, the surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again for a year and that’s the way I am still looking at it.

"Although it seems a long time to December, I am determined not to rush back and possibly cause myself more problems.

"I also had a kidney problem last year and maybe my body is telling me that, after playing football regularly since I was 12 years old, it needs a good long rest."

Davis’s arrival, meanwhile, fills the gap left by the departure of Alan Pouton and assistant manager Darren Hare said on the club’s official website:

"Tom’s a quality player. He has a good engine, works hard and has a good range of passing."

A former England non-league international, Davis made 38 league appearances for AFC Wimbledon last season as they won the Blue Square South title.