Whites’ Wilkinson blow

Midfielder George Wilkinson is expected to miss promotion-chasing Dover’s season run-in. He made a significant impact off the substitutes’ bench in their comeback 2-1 Isthmian Premier home win over Cheshunt last weekend, only to come off with six minutes to go with a fractured collarbone. Wilkinson, still only 21, had found himself out of boss Jake Leberl’s starting line-up in recent weeks.

But Leberl said: “I’m gutted for him. “He has been so unlucky not to get in the team in recent weeks. “Wilko trains so hard.



He’s a fantastic player and a great lad. "Personally, it’s caused me a few issues because I knew he should have been playing. He came on and did ever so well on Saturday.

“For him to fracture his collarbone, I’m gutted for him. I desperately want to keep him. “Hopefully, it doesn’t impact his golf too much - I know he’s a big golfer - but with a fractured collarbone, I would say that he’s out for the season.

” On social media, Wilkinson reacted to the setback, posting: “Gutted to share that I’ve fractured my collarbone. I’m absolutely devastated, but I’ll be there supporting the boys all the way. “In the meantime, I’ll do everything I can to get back for the play-offs.

” Leberl could also be soon left with another tough decision over who wears the No.1 shirt. The vastly-experienced Mitch Walker, who has been out since November through a knee problem, is closing in on his injury comeback.

But Jordan Gillmore has deputised well and saved a first-half penalty to prevent Whites going 2-0 down in the first half at Crabble after ex-Dover midfielder Charlie Naylor had put Cheshunt in front. “It was a great save from Jordan,” said Leberl. “Jordan came in and Mitch’s boots were hard ones to fill.

I do feel, if Mitch hadn’t got injured, we would have more points. “But that’s nothing to do with how Jordan has performed as such. “It’s something I don’t relish.

I hate leaving players out. I hate not giving them minutes but, ultimately, it’s a squad game. “All in all, it’s been a very good season.

Hopefully, we can finish it off and get into the play-off places - and then who knows?” It’s three consecutive league victories for Whites - the latest two of which have seen them come from behind - as forward Luke Baptiste and top scorer George Nikaj struck against Cheshunt. Leberl reflected: “It was a really strange first-half performance. "But if you look at the other results around us, there were some strange first-half performances.

“I was disappointed with the first half and really disappointed with their goal. We just went off track with what we’ve been doing, but we kept calm at half-time. “We came out in the second half and managed to turn it around to make it three wins on the bounce, which we’re really delighted with.

” Both second-half Whites strikes were set up by forward Ruben Soares-Junior. But Leberl said: “He was generally a little bit quiet - but he has come up with those two moments. Those two bits of magic, ultimately, made a difference.

” For Nikaj, it was a 23rd goal this season, and a second in as many fixtures, as he looks to return to form at the business end of the campaign. He is two goals clear of Soares-Junior and five ahead of fellow Academy product Baptiste. But with Nikaj netting the winning goal against Cheshunt with his head, Leberl revealed it’s something he thinks all three can improve on further.

“He’s not a great header of the ball,” Dover’s manager said of Nikaj. “He generally likes to score, cutting in, onto his left foot. “But a top goalscorer has to be able to score all different types of goals.

“I would like all three to score more with their heads. That’s something they can improve on, as we move forwards. “But potentially having three players getting 20 goals in a season, that’s a fantastic achievement.

” The game against Cheshunt was played in front of a crowd of 685 and Leberl said: “I was really disappointed with the crowd. “Obviously, it’s the Easter holidays and a lot of people go away. But to get 600-odd, that’s disappointing.

You can dress it up as much as you like. “If we’re going to keep these players and we’re going to pro-gress, we’re going to need to get crowds of 1,000 or more. "That’s how we will grow the club.

” Fourth-placed Whites will host relegation-threatened Hendon this weekend, with Athletic having opened up a five-point gap ahead of sixth-placed Chichester..