Dover manager Jake Leberl is open to adding reinforcements to his squad.

Whites find themselves well-placed in the Isthmian Premier play-off positions in the early stages of this campaign.

But Leberl has been disappointed with his side’s past couple of performances - a 2-1 home league loss to Wingate & Finchley last weekend coming seven days after they had rescued a 1-1 draw at Carshalton in stoppage time.

Ironically, midfielder Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, who only left Dover in late August, made his Crabble comeback with Wingate.

And Leberl, whose troops were due to play a friendly against National League South side Tonbridge last night, said: “We haven’t had much of a change-around. We have been very loyal.

“I don’t know how many players have started this season but I don’t imagine it’s that many. I’d imagine we have only had something like 14 or 15 starters over the whole season.

“Obviously, we haven’t replaced Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and I think we’ll probably have a look at bringing one or two in, just to freshen it up a little bit.

“I’m going to be as loyal as I possibly can be, but we have had two flat performances on the spin now so it needs to be looked at a little bit.

“There’s nothing concrete on that but we’ll definitely look at it.”

Leberl was left disappointed with what he saw - both on and off the pitch - as Dover went down to Wingate.

“It was just flat,” he reflected. “The whole atmosphere, the whole environment, the performance, it was just flat on a flat day. It was a disappointing day.

“Too many were nowhere near their best and all credit to Wingate, really. They did a job on us.

“We have got to dust ourselves down, learn from it, get over it, don’t let it affect us and crack on to the next one.”

And even though it was Whites who struck first, nine-goal striker George Nikaj putting them ahead midway through the first half, the warning signs were already there.

Leberl said: “They started on the front foot and we didn’t implement what we have done so well early on in the season. That was frustrating.

“But we did get into the game and we got a goal, then we have let one in. The second one came directly from a corner with no one near to their guy [Ogo Obi] - their most dangerous player.

“We would have settled for a point on the flat performance and we wouldn’t be as dejected as we are.

"But we cannot be too down.”

A crowd of 827 descended on Crabble and, after a few difficult years at the club, Leberl admits he doesn’t want to serve up too many displays like their weekend one for their loyal fans.

He said: “It’s always disappointing to lose at home.

“I noticed that we were the only home side to lose in the whole of the Isthmian Premier division at the weekend.

“Our fans have suffered long and hard enough. It’s really down to us.

“The crowd were flat but it’s down to us to get them up. Generally, we have started fairly well at home but we never got started on Saturday, the crowd never got going.

“Before you know it, the final whistle has gone.”

Whites return to home action against divisional rivals Cheshunt in the FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday and face Bognor Regis at Crabble in the league on Tuesday.

“We want a good run in the Trophy,” admitted Leberl ahead of the visit of Cheshunt.

“The Trophy is an important competition for non-league teams. There’s plenty of financial rewards.

“With what we have got and how well we have done, you’d like to think we have got a good chance of doing quite well in it. We certainly need to perform a lot better than we did on Saturday and be right up for it.

“I know their manager, Craig Edwards. Although his team is suffering a little bit in the league, I know they’re going to be right up for it.

“So, we’re going to have to be really prepared and up for having a good cup run.”

The winners of the tie will pocket £2,450.