Nathan Elder has a big smile but that wasn’t evident last Friday after the striker was made available on loan or transfer by Dover Athletic.

And the man whose goal secured Dover promotion to Vanarama Conference after the 1-0 play-off final triumph at Ebbsfleet United last season wishes it wasn’t so – he’d love to stay put.

But limited opportunities have seen Elder, 29, score just one league goal this season and that was back in August during the 2-1 win against Eastleigh at Crabble.

His last start in the league was in the 3-0 home loss in the televised clash against Barnet on September 10. Elder, who signed a new one-year deal last June, knows not playing isn’t helping his chances for a recall to Chris Kinnear’s line-up anytime soon.

He said: “I fully understand the situation and have no complaints whatsoever about being made available.

“The lads are playing well, they are scoring goals and the side is winning. I am so happy the team is doing well - I just wish I was playing a part in it.

“But I’ve been around this game long enough now to know that when you have such a strong squad, it’s always going to be hard to get a game and especially if you are not playing.

“I keep putting in the shifts at training and haven’t missed a session but that’s not getting me anywhere.

“If I want to have any hopes of having a look in, I need to be playing. I need to be scoring goals so hopefully a loan spell will provide me with what I want and need right now.”

Elder, who played for Brighton, Brentford, Shrewsbury and Hereford in the Football League, was not the only striker made available by Whites.

Summer signing Jake Reid was also listed.