Nicky Southall believes Alfie Pavey is just the sort of character Dover need if they are to scrap their way to safety in the National League.

The former Maidstone, Millwall and Dartford striker has joined next-to-bottom Whites from league rivals Havant & Waterlooville, and Athletic coach Southall says the 23-year-old is an excellent fit for the club.

Before his summer move to Havant, Pavey scored 26 goals in all competitions for Dartford during 2017/18 and was voted National League South player-of-the-year.

He was previously at Millwall for three seasons, having started his career with Maidstone's academy.

Southall was at Maidstone when Pavey was coming through and he says the striker has all the attributes to succeed at Crabble where he has already scored this season – during Havant's 4-3 defeat in August.

Confirming the deal, Southall said: "Goalscorers, you need them. If you're going to get out of the position we're in you need to score goals.

"Keeping clean sheets is important but ultimately you've got to score more than the opposition and Alfie gives us another option up top.

Read the match report from Dover's 2-1 win over Hartlepool here

"When I was at Maidstone Alfie was in the youth team, I know him, I've watched him and he's a player that chases lost causes, he'll run through a brick wall for you.

"He upsets defenders, he doesn't give them a minute's peace on the ball and that's what you want.

"He scored a lot of goals for Dartford last season and he's a great age. He's come into this league this season and scored goals for Havant.

"He wants to go full-time training. I think at Havant they were training just two evenings but he wants to go full-time, he had that at Millwall and he wants to go back to that.

"He's hungry, he wants to get fitter and stronger and he wants to play at the highest level he can. He wants to come here and do well for us.

"That's the big thing for us, he wants to come. We made an inquiry and the player actually wanted to come, that's what we want, we want players to come to this club because they see what we're building and what we're trying to achieve."