There are fears Dover left-back Bailey Akehurst’s season is over.

Akehurst sustained a nasty knee injury in the warm-up ahead of their 1-0 defeat at promotion-chasing National League South side Torquay last weekend.

While the 20-year-old’s injury diagnosis hasn’t been confirmed, the early signs are not good, with Akehurst previously damaging knee ligaments on loan at Hastings from Gillingham in August 2022.

Manager Jake Leberl said: “I would be shocked if he plays again this season, to be honest.

“But, obviously, it needs to be assessed. He feels it’s what he had done before so that’s a long-term one.

“We will just have to wait.”

Akehurst was replaced in basement boys Dover’s starting line-up by Peter Ojemen at Torquay. But Akehurst’s dead-ball deliveries will prove a miss, as well as his defensive capabilities.

Leberl said: “It’s a blow - for his set-piece deliveries and general deliveries, as well as his defending.

“It looked like a nasty one, as well. Everyone is really upset for him.

“Unfortunately, that’s part and parcel of football. But Peter will come in and he’s a strong defender.”

Akehurst himself reacted to well-wishers on social media, writing: “Thank you to all the staff!

“[I] appreciate the help.”

Whites had kept Gary Johnson’s troops at bay until a stunning long-range goal from midfielder Brett McGavin on the hour mark.

Leberl, whose side are still some 12 points adrift of safety, reflected: “I was relatively pleased, to be honest.

“They have got the second-best record at home in the league. They’re a big club, have a big budget and have got good players.

“Everything went the way we wanted it to go and their fans were calling for the manager’s (Johnson’s) head at half-time. Their lad (McGavin) slapped one in from 35 yards - but even that didn’t kill us.

“We reacted well but just didn’t have enough opportunities to get back into it. There were no complaints from us, if I’m honest.

“But, obviously, we need to pick up points to get out of the position we’re in. We need to be a little bit better on the ball in their half so we can create more opportunities and, hopefully, we can pick up points.

“Whether we can pick up enough or not, that’s another question.”

It was announced 13 Dover fans made the journey to Torquay, as the club’s recent tough times continued with Whites close to a second relegation in three seasons.

Leberl admitted: “It’s been a difficult period to support Dover Athletic.

“On social media, there’s a lot of negativity. That doesn’t help anyone - but I understand it because, ultimately, I’m a Dover fan myself.

“But negativity is not going to help anyone in any walk of life.

“Player recruitment is always going to be difficult for a club struggling in the table - although it’s not a struggling squad. I’ve been in dressing rooms where half of the players don’t want to be there - but I don’t get that (from his present squad).

“It’s difficult to attract players. Where do you get players from at this stage of the season?”

Dover will aim to do a rare double this season at home to Slough this Saturday after they beat them 2-1 in August.

Before their match against Slough, Whites will host Jay Saunders’ mid-table Tonbridge side tonight (7.45pm), themselves looking to bounce back from a 1-0 home loss to Worthing at the weekend.

“I used to play with Jay and Mike (Sandmann, Dover coach) worked with Jay,” said Leberl.

“I generally know their players a lot better than players at other clubs in our league. A lot of the lads will have played with each other and know each other.

“Obviously, we came back from a long journey on Saturday. But that’s no excuse because they played at the weekend, as well.

“Hopefully, we can get a result.”

Forward Dontai Stewart (knee) remains sidelined while Academy graduate Archie Hatcher continues to struggle for full fitness after a sustained period of illness.