Dover Athletic manager Nicky Forster’s satisfaction at his side’s back-to-back victories has been partly soured this week by the loss of Steve Watt for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old defender, who joined Whites from Grimsby in the summer, has been out of action since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in the 1-1 draw with Havant & Waterlooville on September 24.

Forster (pictured) said: "It’s disappointing news for both him and the club.

"He is one of only two players who haven’t kicked a ball for us since we arrived at the club – goalkeeper Lee Hook is the other – and someone with his experience and leadership qualities would have been good to have.

"We knew something wasn’t right. The injury hasn’t responded to rehab and now he faces surgery."

Forster says he has enough defensive cover, adding: "We have had continuity playing a settled back four, which is good news.

"There are seven defenders at the club, including Steve and Sean Raggett, so we have a lot of options."