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Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear says he is looking forward to seeing his new-look side develop

Chris Kinnear admits he is really excited by the promise already being shown by his new-look team and thinks supporters are liking what they see too.

The Dover boss completely regenerated his squad during the close-season and so far the signs have been encouraging with three wins from four National League games including a last-gasp 2-1 win at FC Halifax on Tuesday.

All the goals came right at the death with skipper Mitch Brundle heading Whites in front on 87 minutes only for Tom Denton to head the hosts level in the first minute of injury time.

Dover manager Chris Kinnear Picture: Alan Langley
Dover manager Chris Kinnear Picture: Alan Langley

Four minutes later Dover substititute Tobi Sho-Silva emerged as the matchwinner, stabbing home Connor Essam's header for his first league goal to lift Whites up to third.

Kinnear, whose side host Barrow on Saturday (3pm), says he has been pleased with how quickly the summer arrivals have bought into the club’s philosophy and he is looking forward to seeing them develop.

He said: “We’ve always had quite a young side, because experienced players they’re always the premium players who want a load of money.

“What we do is try to make them into a team and not be individuals.

“Every game we’re learning about (the new) players, it’s about letting players go out and play to their strengths and I’ve got to say I am quite excited with this bunch because they are young, when you’re talking to them their eyes are alight and you can tell they want to do well.

“Wrexham (Dover's opponents on Saturday) for example have gone for experience which I suppose they can, we’ve gone for lads with ambition and to try to excite the crowd and I think at the moment supporters are enjoying the young lads.

“They (the players) have an effervescence about them and supporters have said ‘ We like the way our lads are now’ so yes it does excite me. Hopefully they can go onto achieve what they deserve.”

Kinnear admitted it was not the greatest of games against Wrexham but he was pleased to see Ryan Bird open his account.

The big striker’s 18th minute strike proved decisive and Kinnear said: “Ryan will always score goals and that’s why he’s here. He’s such a good lad, he always give 100% but it was a good team goal, there were two or three passes in the box and that’s good because the forwards have got to work together."

Kinnear remains keen to add to his squad but only if he feels the players are right for the club.

He explained: “There are irons in the fire it’s just a matter of getting them. All of a sudden, right from the top, there’s a lot more money being needed for players but it’s not just that it’s getting the right players, we’ve got a good spirit here and you’ve got to be sure you don’t spoil it.”

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