Manager Dan Scorer says there have been approaches for Gary Lockyer - but the prolific striker remains committed to Kennington.

Lockyer scored his third hat-trick in a matter of weeks as Ton beat Crowborough 4-1 in Southern Counties East last Saturday.

He has 16 goals in 15 games in all competitions this season, so it’s no surprise to see clubs testing the water.

But the 28-year-old is enjoying himself and has no plans to go anywhere.

“We’ve had interest in the last couple of weeks,” said manager. “Approaches have come in and we always keep each other in the loop when these things happen.

“Gary’s a very respectful person, he’s happy to talk to other managers, just to see why they’re interested, but he’s made it very clear with the clubs he’s spoken to that he’s happy where he is.”

Kennington handed a debut to forward Paldon Bepe in their win against Crowborough and were boosted by Tom Scorer’s return from injury.

With Gary Clarke also back, the squad is looking strong, boosted by Bepe’s arrival.

Boss Scorer, who worked with his new signing at Ashford under-23s, said: “We’ve seen how quickly things can change with injuries and suspensions.

“It’s a case of making sure we’ve got options, as opposed to being short and getting to a Thursday or Friday and signing players who are just not up to it.

“I want to make sure we’re competitive, whether we’ve got one injury or five injuries.”

Kennington are preparing for a double-header with in-form Deal Town.

They meet in the Kent Senior Trophy at Homelands on Saturday and the following weekend at the Charlies Ground in the FA Vase.

Town have won their last seven league games, including a 2-0 win over Kennington, and Scorer isn’t surprised to see them doing so well.

“I said at the start of the season they were my dark horses,” he said.

“They had a fantastic start last year, they’re defensively very good, they’re well-drilled and they showed that when they played us in the league.

“We went there depleted after the Carshalton FA Cup game but they were really good to watch.

“They’re not just a defensive team who sit in, they counter-attack really well.

“With the Kent Senior Trophy followed by the Vase, I’d be surprised if they don’t make one or two changes as well.

“The Trophy is a competition we both have a better opportunity to win but the Vase is a prestigious competition that we want to progress in.

"We might change one or two, it’ll be interesting to see how they set up.”

Joe Mant remains sidelined with a quad problem, aggravated when he returned too soon at Chatham, so 17-year-old Sam Hignett will continue in goal.

“Sam’s come in and done brilliantly well,” said Scorer.

“He’s learning very quickly, which is what you want. He’s a big lad, with a good frame, and I think he’ll have a very good career in non-league.”

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