Manager Steve King has a tricky balancing act as he aims to bolster Deal’s squad.

King’s newly-promoted Hoops saw their winning Isthmian South East start to the season ended with a 4-2 home defeat to Ramsgate in front of a club-record crowd of 1,985 on Bank Holiday Monday following last weekend’s 3-1 victory at Broadbridge Heath.

While Deal have plenty of forward options, they are light in other positions, particularly defensively, and will lose Max Niblett when he returns to university shortly.

But King has never been someone to make knee-jerk signings, so any additions to the squad will be thought through.

He admitted: “We need a bit more depth.

“We have got Jack Penny, Josh Vincent, Kane Smith and Ife Oni - four defenders - all out injured.

“But it’s hard for us to bring players in because we try and bring players in for the long-term.

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“We’re not the sort of club to bring someone in and then, a month later, get rid of somebody.

“We’re trying to identify players that fit into our ethos and our mould.

“If we do bring them in, the idea is they’ll be around for two, three or four seasons rather than just coming in and filling in.”

Only Smith is a long-term absentee, the other three having a chance of being fit enough to feature as the Hoops aim to bounce back from their first league loss this term at East Grinstead this Saturday.

King confirmed: “Kane is probably the longest. He’s had a scan.

“The others will probably have a chance for the weekend.

“They have lower-body muscular injuries but there’s nothing too long-term within that.”

East Grinstead - like Deal - are already out of the FA Cup this campaign but are unbeaten from their first three league matches.

King noted: “We have got a tough game.

“But we have no worries about going away from home.

“Our away form was outstanding last year so we have no worries about that at all.”

A bumper attendance watched the Hoops’ first of many Kent derbies as they were edged out by the Rams despite goals by brothers Ben and Tom Chapman in either half.

Deal also won a penalty soon after taking the lead - but defender Jack Paxman, up against his old club and twin Alfie Paxman, dragged his spot-kick wide.

Two-goal Tom Chapman and Billy Munday did the damage at Broadbridge Heath.

The hosts failed to convert a penalty in front of a crowd of just 89.