With Dover goalkeeper Andy Rafferty banned for Saturday’s Vanarama Conference clash at Altrincham, Mitch Walker admits he would love to replace him.

But no matter how keen the England C representative is to do so, he knows that won’t be happening as he’s still a couple of weeks away from playing again.

He has been sidelined with injury since tearing the ligaments in an elbow during the 2-1 league defeat at Dartford on September 16.

Walker, who was named in the Conference South Team of the Year last season, said it was frustrating he wasn’t ready yet.

He said: “It would have been great to be able to tell the gaffer (Chris Kinnear) that I was good to go and he did ask but I am still not right.

“There is no point taking a risk when I am not 100% – it’s been a long road back to get to this stage so I don’t want to jeopardise all that work.

“I would have loved to have played.”

Walker, who signed for Whites from Brighton & Hove Albion in May, 2012, said his long stint on the sidelines had been ‘boring’.

“I thought I’d only miss a month or so. It’s dragged on as there was nothing I could do except rest it. I wasn’t able to drive, either.”