Kevin Lokko is back and aiming to give Whites’ fans some much needed Christmas cheer.

Dover’s captain returned to the starting line-up last Saturday after coming off injured against Stockport County in October, but was unable to prevent Athletic slipping to a seventh home defeat of the season,  a 2-0 loss to Boreham Wood.

Now with a busy festive schedule of six matches in three weeks, including Kent derbies against Ebbsfleet and Bromley, Lokko is aiming to lead Dover back up into play-off contention.

He said: “We have two games in hand and points wise we aren’t far off where we want to be.  We would like to be higher up the table, but it is just the fact we have been poor at home.

“I think we need to simplify things at Crabble.  We need to keep it simple and really go back to basics by just putting the balls into the right areas and being solid all over the pitch.

“After last week against Peterborough we expected to deliver a response against Boreham Wood and to go and produce the performance we did is not acceptable.

“Our boss Andy Hessenthaler was very disappointed and as players, we let him, the fans and the club down.”

After missing seven matches prior to last weekend’s loss, the 24-year-old is ready to help turn around the club’s current form, starting with Saturday’s FA Trophy trip to National League North leaders King’s Lynn Town.

He said:  “I’m feeling good and Saturday was the first time in about six weeks that I have felt pain-free.  It was a really tough rehab and hopefully, now I can help the lads get back to winning ways.”

“King’s Lynn are flying up at the top of the National League North and we won’t take them lightly.  They are a very good team and will cause us a few problems, but it’s another competitive game that we need to try and win as the Trophy is a competition that could take us to Wembley.”

As for Athletic’s current league status, Lokko said:  “At this point it could go either way.  We can either get caught up in another dogfight like last season or we can end up pushing for the play-offs and further, so it will be a pivotal part of the season.

“There are a lot of games coming up so we need to get back to earning three points on a regular basis.”

 

Marshall Wratten has joined Isthmian South East side Whitstable Town on loan.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who signed professional terms with Athletic during the summer, spent last September on loan at The Belmont Ground and will be with the Oystermen until the end of the season.

Good luck Marshall!