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Dover Athletic right-back Myles Judd's return could provide timely boost ahead of National League South trip to Taunton Town

The return of right-back Myles Judd could provide a timely boost for Dover.

Judd is available again for this Saturday’s National League South trip to Taunton after serving a two-match ban.

Defender Myles Judd is back in contention for Dover for this Saturday's trip to Taunton. Picture: Stuart Brock
Defender Myles Judd is back in contention for Dover for this Saturday's trip to Taunton. Picture: Stuart Brock

With versatile on-loan Crystal Palace defender David Boateng hobbling off in the first half of their goalless home draw against Chelmsford last weekend, influential Judd - 24 this Friday - looks likely to slot straight back in.

But Whites manager Mitch Brundle is still pondering whether to also tinker with his tactics, as well as changing personnel, ahead of the away clash.

He said: “We have got Myles Judd back.

“He didn’t want the break to come. It’s good we have a replacement to come straight back in, but it might not be like-for-like.

“I don’t know what team I’m picking yet.”

Brundle felt Dover deserved more against their seventh-placed visitors at Crabble as midfielders Khale Da Costa and Arjanit Krasniqi, alongside forward Reece Grant, returned to their old stomping ground.

Chelmsford’s Chelsea loanee keeper Edward Beach kept out striker Josh Ajayi’s volley early on before Whites skipper Lee Martin saw a first-half effort ruled out for offside.

“It was a weird feeling,” Brundle reflected.

“I thought we deserved more but not scoring has been our downfall.

"But we have performed consistently over three games and we’ve taken five points from the last nine.

Dover's George Wilkinson is struggling with a knee injury. Picture: Stuart Brock
Dover's George Wilkinson is struggling with a knee injury. Picture: Stuart Brock

“There were good spells in the game for us but we turned down the opportunity to shoot a lot more. Based on the performance, especially in the first half, we did quite well.

“Josh should have scored early on. But the defenders were fantastic - for both teams.

“Nels [goalkeeper Stuart Nelson] has been brilliant as well. Against Eastbourne, for example, he pulled off some worldie saves.”

Young midfielder George Wilkinson remained sidelined against Chelmsford, although defender Will Moses is closing in on a return.

“George is still feeling a slight pain in his knee,” Brundle said.

“He will be assessed again this week. But Will Moses trained last week and George shouldn’t be too far away.

"Hopefully, he can come back and get some consistency.

“George hasn’t had that consistency this season.

“But he’s resilient enough and, once he’s back fit, we will try to get him some games and get that match sharpness back.”

Whites - now on a three-match unbeaten run - beat Taunton 1-0 in January but they have a much better home record under boss Rob Dray, earning 20 of their 32 league points there.

They are winless in four but had won two games in a row, including a 2-0 home victory over high-fliers Havant, before that run and have plenty of midweek fixtures coming up.

Brundle said: “They have a tough spell coming up.

“They’re a good side. They work their socks off for their manager so it’s always going to be a competitive game.

"They have played well at times from what I have watched.

“It’s a tough game, it’s a long journey, and they seem to do well at home. We just need to stick to our consistency levels.

"I’m looking forward to the game and I think the boys are as well.

“Hopefully, we can come out for the long journey home with a positive result.”

The 15th-placed Whites then welcome Havant to Crabble on Tuesday at the start of a run of three straight home matches as they aim to remove any lingering fears of a second straight relegation.

The Havant game was postponed in January, less than two hours before kick-off due to a frozen pitch.

But Brundle isn’t looking too far ahead, saying: “We have some tough home games coming but I will not be looking beyond this game yet.”

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