Ira Jackson has been challenged to settle at one club.

The pacy forward joined Folkestone from Sittingbourne midway through last season and has made the step up to Bostik Premier look seamless.

But manager Neil Cugley believes Jackson, a product of Dover’s academy, still needs to prove himself over a longer period.

He said: “Ira did well last season. We took a bit of a gamble because when I signed him, he’d been released by Sittingbourne and he was in and out of their side.

“He’d played well against us in a cup game and I liked him. When I saw he’d been released from Sittingbourne I thought I’d take a gamble, as we do sometimes, and he did all right.

“He needs a bit more consistency in his game but he could be a good asset for Folkestone.

“His goalscoring record was quite good but he’s got to do it week in, week out and just settle down at one club. That’s what I’ve said to him.

“He’s had a ridiculous number of clubs for a young person and he needs to settle down.”

Folkestone remain in the market for a striker following the departure of last season’s top scorer Ade Yusuff to Dulwich.

They’ll field at least one trialist in that position when Dover visit the Fullicks Stadium for a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Cugley said: “We don’t have a massive squad so a lot of my players will be playing most of the game but that will be OK.

“The pitch is absolutely superb and it’s always nice to play Dover.

“You know the first three games (Dover, Maidstone and Gillingham) are going to be very difficult because they’re all full-time but that helps the fitness and if you want to look at any players and they can perform well against those sort of teams you’ve got half a chance.

“There will definitely be one if not two centre-forwards playing on Saturday that we’ll be looking at – or they’ll be looking at us.

“I’m happy with my goalie, we’ve got five defenders going after four places, the midfield now with Kieron McCann signed is good and we only need a forward.

“Apart from that, we’re all ready and raring to go.”

Maidstone come to the Fullicks on Tuesday night as Invicta, who reported back for training on Saturday, face up to a tough schedule.

But Cugley said: “Players are different class now. They come back so fit that you just get on with the ball work.

“All credit to them because they come back near enough showing off how fit they are so it’s great.”

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