Boss Andy Hessenthaler is waiting on the fitness of several players as Dover prepare to welcome Halifax to Crabble on Saturday.

Oscar Gobern, Jack Munns and Bilel Hinchiri all missed Saturday's win at Hartlepool due to injury, while right-back Josh Passley came away from the game with an ankle problem.

Whites did, however, welcome Bobby-Joe Taylor back to the starting line-up in Tuesday's win at Maidenhead, with skipper Kevin Lokko also on the bench for the second game in a row amid his own return to full fitness.

“We picked up three injuries leading up to the Hartlepool game,” said Hessenthaler.

“We lost Jack Munns who has been in hospital, he’s got a few problems with his stomach and he’s had a few tests.

“We lost Oscar Gobern who tore a stomach muscle in training and we lost Bilel Hinchiri to a knock to his knee in training.

“I’m hoping they’ll be available for Halifax.

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“I didn’t really envision having either Bobby or Kevin on the bench but it was a case of having to, they weren’t really 100% fit and I was hoping we didn’t have to use them.

“Pass (Passley) has picked up an injury, it was good that Bobby came on and got 45 minutes under his belt.

“Kev (Lokko) is pretty much nearly there now, he’ll be fit for the game on Saturday.”

Scott Doe has slotted in alongside Will de Havilland at centre-back in the absence of skipper Lokko, playing a key role in Dover’s clean sheet at Hartlepool.

On the defender, Hessenthaler added: “He’s been excellent whenever he’s played.

“When Doey plays he’s very consistent, he’s very clever upstairs in terms of quick-thinking and that comes with experience.

“We lose a little bit of balance to the team without Kev on the left side with Will (De Havilland) not being left footed, but we’ve done great and since losing Bobby as well.

“Now we get them back we’ll hopefully get some more balance back into the team.”

Joe Bedford is another player who has been struggling with injury lately as he fights for first-team opportunities, with Dover still open to loan offers for the midfielder.

“He’s been very good,” said Hessenthaler. “I think he’s been a bit disappointed, he’s lost his way in training a little bit.

“He’s had a few injury problems, he’s had a sciatica hamstring injury. It’s restricting him a little bit at the moment.

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“He’s been doing a lot of work with the physio, he’s been training well enough and he looked good Monday.

“If there’s an opportunity for a loan then we’ll try and get him one.”

Dover head into the game looking for just their second win at Crabble so far this campaign.

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