Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler expects striker Alfie Pavey’s loan to be extended.

Pavey has made a big impact since re-joining the club in November, initially signing for a month.

The four-goal frontman’s existing loan deal is now up but Hessenthaler expects the 26-year-old former Millwall man to stay with Whites for at least another month.

Speaking after Dover’s 1-0 loss to Southend on Saturday, he suggested: “We can do another month because of the 90-day rule, so he’ll stay for another month.

“We don’t know (if it will be extended beyond that), because after that, you have to take him until the end of the season.

“He’ll stay for another month and then we’ll have another chat with Hakan (Hayrettin, Maidstone's manager) over the next few weeks.”

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National League basement boys Dover have been busy in January.

They have brought in right-back Myles Judd, attacker Michael Gyasi and midfielder Arjanit Krasniqi, as well as extending the loan stints of defender Harry Ransom from Crawley and Gillingham midfielder Henry Woods until the end of the season.

Whites already have five loan players in their squad in Gyasi, Ransom, Woods, goalkeeper Adam Parkes and Pavey, although Hessenthaler did suggest he may look to bring in another striker with teenager Noah Carney (toe) now out injured.