Nicky Deverdics says he is 'more than delighted' to be back at Crabble and can't wait to help Dover in their push for promotion.

The 29-year-old was one of the players of the season in Vanarama National League last season, scoring 14 goals from midfield as Dover recorded their highest ever finish and notching a league-high 18 assists.

He joined League 2 Hartlepool in June but has been allowed to leave on a month's loan having not having played since the turn of the year but it has been reported he turned down moves to two of Dover's league rivals, including his hometown team Gateshead, before agreeing to return to Kent.

Deverdics will link-up with his former Whites teammates at training on Thursday night and hopes to be involved in Saturday's league game at home to Wrexham (3pm).

He said: "The past six months (since I've been away) has been alright, it's been what I expected. I know what it's about, I've played in the Football League before.

"I managed to get in the team, had a run of games, then I was out again and then the new manager (Dave Jones) has come in. It's football.

"The gaffer said he wanted me to go out for a month so he can see me playing. I had a couple of options but once Dover came in it was an easy decision to go."

Deverdics revealed: "(Dover assistant manager) Jake Leberl has been on my case for weeks. I got messages from him regularly to see how it was going and when I found myself out of the team he asked me to let him know if there was the chance of me going anywhere else.

"When I was told I could go out for a month I spoke to him, and he and (Chris Kinnear) got the ball rolling. I turned down a couple of other clubs.

"I know most of the lads from last season so it's a perfect fit. It's not just any month on loan, it's going back to the place where I've spent the past two years."

Deverdics claimed the move was 'win-win' for him, explaining: "If I play well and get called back and get into the team then that's my aim, that's my club now. But if I come here and the gaffer wants me to stay then that's not a bad situation for me either, fighting for promotion, that's not a bad environment to be in.

"I am more than delighted to be back to play my part in the promotion push for the boys."

Deverdics' last appearance was in the second leg of the play-off semi-final defeat at Forest Green in May and he claimed: "You can see from where they are in the table that the semi-final hurt the boys and they have done their best to get back up the table. Hopefully I can help them get back in those play-offs."

Deverdics revealed he had been keeping an eye on his former team-mates this season and even went on the Whites' Christmas Do.

He said: "I've kept tabs on the lads. The boys have done great, Ricky Miller has been flying and some of the other lads have chipped in with goals too. Keeping pretty much the same squad means everyone knows each other and how they play. It's an advantage.

"Stefan Payne was always going to be a big miss but the gaffer has recruited well.

"I am buzzing to get back, I have seen them fairly recently but it will be good to go back. It's up to the gaffer if wants me to play on Saturday, the lads did win their last game, but I don't think I have lost my ability to cross it and smash it in the last six months. Hopefully I can slip back in seamlessly."