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Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler signs midfielder Koby Arthur and is back at training after Covid battle

Andy Hessenthaler has completed building his new-look Dover squad - but hasn't ruled out more loan signings.

Whites signed former Macclesfield and Kidderminster midfielder Koby Arthur, who featured in pre-season matches against Tonbridge and Watford under-23s.

Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler. Picture: Keith Gillard (49015850)
Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler. Picture: Keith Gillard (49015850)

It completes Dover's new-look squad with Hessenthaler bringing in more than a dozen new faces to Crabble.

Keeper Adam Parkes (Watford), midfielder Henry Woods (Gillingham) and forward Aaron Cosgrave (AFC Wimbledon) are already on loan but Hessenthaler hasn't ruled out delving into that market again.

"If we need to go into the loan market then the chairman has said we can look at that," said Hessenthaler.

"I keep saying about another central midfield player and that could be the case but I've got three really good young ones in there and I'm really excited by them and their potential. We've got good legs in there and you need that in this league, and then we've got experience behind them and up front."

On his latest recruit, Hessenthaler added: "We had Koby in the original trial game and to be fair his CV only came in last minute and we didn't realise where he'd come from and the experience he had at that time.

"He started pre-season with us and unfortunately his little boy was ill and he had to miss some pre-season but it was always the plan that he'd come back once he was able to, and he played a couple of games and trained with us.

"We've got wide players but he can play both sides and also as a number 10 or even a fake nine as they call it nowadays, and he's good for us in terms of his experience."

Dover's opening National League game with Solihull was postponed last Saturday after a Covid outbreak at Crabble, which included Hessenthaler testing positive.

The squad were back out of isolation at the weekend and back on the training ground ahead of the weekend trip to Maidenhead.

"I feel good, it was good to be back on the training ground and back with the boys, hopefully that's behind me now," said Hessenthaler.

"I've had a good conversation with the squad about getting the vaccination, I can't force them to do that but I've told them they would be wise to do it and hopefully that's the case."

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

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