DOVER ATHLETIC'S star striker Jimmy Dryden has been told he needs a knee operation which could rule him out for a large chunk of next season.

Dryden damaged the joint on a skiing holiday in January and aggravated the injury in the play-off semi-final victory against Metropolitan Police. He has seen a leading knee specialist in London.

The 26-year-old signed from Folkestone Invicta in December. Despite being out for nearly three months, he still managed to bag nine goals for Dover.

Dryden’s father Archie said: "The left ligament is torn, and the one behind the knee. If he has an operation he should be OK and eventually be back scoring goals for Dover."

Whites chairman Jim Parmenter said he was awaiting the specialists’s report before making any public comment.

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