THE condition of Matt Carruthers is the biggest worry for Dover manager Clive Walker ahead of the Boxing Day derby with Folkestone Invicta at Crabble (3pm).

Carruthers has suspected glandular fever and was again missing from Whites’ line-up in their goalless draw at Welling on Saturday.

The hard-working midfielder said: “I am waiting for the results of a blood test but the doctor thinks it’s glandular fever. I am on antibiotics and hoping that I might be involved against Folkestone, because I don’t want to miss that one.

“The trouble is that I feel OK one minute and then half dead the next.”

Walker commented: “I am keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not glandular fever, because we miss Matty’s pace and creativity when he’s not playing.”

The Crabble surface is already beginning to cut up, and heavy rain ahead of the money-spinning festive fixture could put it in jeopardy.