Keeper Mitch Walker admits he’s delighted to have been given the chance to play a more significant role in Dover’s push for the play-offs.

The 25-year-old has spent a fair bit of Dover’s 2016/17 Vanarama National League campaign as back-up to summer signing Steve Arnold, but has kept three clean sheets in four games since being recalled.

Boss Chris Kinnear described Walker’s form since his return as ‘outstanding,’ but the man himself says he’s just happy to be playing regularly again.

Walker, who has been at Crabble since 2012, said: “This season has been very frustrating on a personal note for me.

“I felt as though we did very well as a team last year, when I played about 70 or 80% of the games. It’s been a little bit frustrating (not playing this year) but it’s given me time to work hard and reflect on things and it’s nice to be back playing.

“I enjoy playing football, whether it’s a friendly or a play-off final so I was over the moon when I got put back in. I’ve been ticking over. We’ve had the Kent Senior Cup and we’ve not conceded a goal in that. It’s nice to keep ticking over playing those games but it’s certainly good to be back playing in the league.”

Walker was brought back into the fold by Kinnear after the 5-0 defeat at Boreham Wood last month and has been beaten just once so far - in last Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Tranmere, although he did save a penalty.

He was largely a spectator for Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Gateshead although he did make a crucial save from Paddy McLaughlin while the score was still 1-0.

He explained: “I just thought to myself I’ve got to make myself as big as I can and fortunately for me he didn’t aim it at the far corner.

“I think it was the 44th or 45th minute and it’s one of those where if it goes in, you go in at half-time kind of kicking yourself because I thought we’d played well in the first half and thoroughly deserved our lead.”

Sixth-placed Whites have six games left to book their play-off place, starting at Braintree on Saturday, and Walker believes they are good enough to finish the season unbeaten.

“We’re kind of in a little mini league at the moment from fourth down to eighth or ninth. I’d like to think we can win every single game, I think we’re capable of doing that.

“It’s going to be tight and I’m sure there’ll be another couple of ups and downs but as long as we’re in those play-off positions come the end of the season, everyone will be happy.”

Midfielder James Hurst hopes to be fit for selection at Braintree. He picked up a thigh muscle injury at Tranmere but his recovery was estimated at seven to 10 days.