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Dover Athletic manager Chris Kinnear faces challenge to get the best out of striker Calum Willock

Callum Willock
Callum Willock

by Kevin Redsull

One of the first problems Chris Kinnear must resolve as Dover’s new manager is how to get the best out of Calum Willock.

The much-travelled striker has become something of a peripheral figure at Crabble after joining from Ebbsfleet United last summer, mainly because Ben May has made the No.9 shirt his own.

It has meant that Willock (pictured) has frequently started on the bench and then been asked to play off the main striker when he has come on, rather than down the middle which is his preferred option.

The 32-year-old St Kitts and Nevis international showed where he is happiest with an impressive contribution, including scoring with a superb overhead kick, after coming on as a half-time replacement for the injured May during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Welling.

Kinnear said: "Calum has been carrying a hamstring injury for a while which may help to explain why he’s not been figuring more but he’s a top player and it shows the strength of the squad here when you can bring on someone of his quality."

Willock scored more than 40 goals in his two seasons with Ebbsfleet during which he played in the target man role but he had little chance to do the same at Crabble under previous manager Nicky Forster.

With Billy Bricknell fit again, his chances of a place in the starting line-up in Saturday’s Blue Square Bet South game at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday again seem slim unless May fails to recover from the back spasm which forced his early exit against Welling.

Do you think Willock is worthy of a starting berth at Crabble? Have your say below.

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