Age is just a number for Dover defender Tyrone Sterling.

The Grenada international is much older than boss Mitch Brundle - but that doesn’t bother him.

He said: “I’ve known him for a while and, obviously, we’ve played here together as well.

“He’s a good guy and he’s confident. He wants us to believe in what he’s doing - and we all do. Age is nothing, as long as he’s got a plan and he knows what he wants to do. We’ll stick by him.

“Everyone can learn from everyone, I think, and it’s important that we just back him.”

Brundle, 28, hasn’t taken to the field since he replaced Andy Hessenthaler as manager of the National League South outfit last month - but did play alongside Sterling while he was player-assistant manager earlier in the season.

“It’s a tough one, I’ll be honest,” replied Sterling when asked if he viewed Brundle more as his manager or as a team-mate.

“Because we’ve played with him for half the season and he’s now in that role, it’s difficult. But I think he still wants to be our mates.

“He’s made some tough decisions, as you’ve already seen, but it’s hard work and we’ll stick with him.”

But 35-year-old Sterling is still some way younger than veteran goalkeeper Stuart Nelson. While Sterling scored in Dover’s 2-1 weekend home win over Eastbourne, 41-year-old Nelson made big saves in either half, including a spectacular second-half save as he tipped a free-kick against the crossbar before he gathered the loose ball.

“As a defender, when you have got a goalkeeper just talking constantly, it keeps you switched on,” explained Sterling. “It makes a difference.

“Then, to pull out the save that he has, it keeps you in the game. Those are big moments.

“Their goalie (ex-Whites man Lee Worgan) has done the same thing. Credit to Nels. He’s an old man, like me as well! But he’s kept us in the game.”

And the fact Nelson is playing in his forties gives Sterling hope there’s a few years left as a player for himself, too.

He said: “I've always said it’s down to my body. If my body feels all right - obviously now and again, there’s been a few little injuries I’ve picked up - but I feel good.

“Who knows what the future holds? I’ll just keep going.”

Sterling bagged his first goal this season for Whites, powering home Luke Wanadio’s right-wing cross after a corner had been half-cleared.

“I saw it went wide to Waz and I think it was a case of either going back or staying up,” Sterling said of his goal.

“I just thought ‘You know what, I’m just going to stay in there and gamble’ and Luke put a great ball in.

“It dropped nicely for me and I just put my head through it. The goalie said he couldn’t get near it!”

His header got Whites level after winger Leone Gravata had put Boro ahead inside the first two minutes before striker Josh Ajayi’s deflected second-half effort earned Dover their triumph, ending a six-game winless run.

On how he had felt when his side went behind early on, Sterling, in his second spell with the club, replied: “Oh gosh!

“I think everyone had flashbacks of other games. But we really showed a bit of character and showed what we’re about. We know we’re all great players, we just need to bring it together.

“Going 1-0 down early was a bit of a blow but my goal brought us back in it and confidence grew from there.”

Whites will look to build on their first league victory since Brundle took charge permanently when they host promotion-chasing Chelmsford this Saturday.

Sterling said: “This will only give us confidence, going into the next game now. We all know what we’re capable of.

“Scoring goals using our style of play has really given us a big boost.”