Steve Brown has opened the door for out-of-contract Dover defender Lloyd Harrington to join him at Ebbsfleet United.

Harrington, who missed almost all of last season with a serious knee injury, was in the Fleet squad for Wednesday night's game against Charlton Athletic.

He was a surprise inclusion, given that he'd played for Dover against Faversham the night before.

Fleet boss Brown, who worked with Harrington at Crabble in 2012-13 when he was Whites assistant manager, explained what had happened.

"He wasn’t on the radar at all," he said. "I had no idea he was available but I got a phone call, a couple of days ago, saying 'I’m just not getting any minutes, is there any chance you could have a little look?'

"Obviously I know Lloyd. I’d only be interested in bringing him here as a centre-half and we’ll see what happens. I’ve given him 15 minutes and who knows what will happen in the next week or so?

"He’s a good, young player. If he’s available, I’d be mad not to look at him.

"It’s an area where I’m short at the moment, if I’m honest. Shane Huke’s picked up another injury and he’ll be out for another couple of weeks. I’m a little bit short in that area, so there’s an opportunity for somebody to come in and show me they’re good enough.

"But as I say to anybody out there who comes into this squad now, you have to fight for your place. You can’t come here and think you’re going to play - it’s absolutely not the way we do it. You come in and if you earn a spot, you play; if you don’t perform or I think someone’s playing better than you, they play. Lloyd understands that.

"To be honest, I’m going to let Lloyd sort out what he needs to sort out and if he does become available, then we would definitely be interested. He’s a 20-year-old youngster with a great left foot and he’s got a decent future ahead of him at centre-half, so I’d be mad not to be interested."

Harrington damaged cruciate ligaments playing for Dover against Ebbsfleet last August.

Brown said: "He’s obviously had a year out. But if I didn’t rate him, I wouldn’t have offered him 15 minutes here. I don’t know what his personal situation is but I know he’s not contracted to anybody and we’ve given him 15 minutes.

"What Lloyd does now is up to Lloyd. If he gets back in touch with me, great, if he goes and signs for Dover, no problem.

"At the moment, his situation is that he’s not got a contract with anybody."

Dover are away to Sevenoaks Town on Thursday and at home to Colchester United on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Fleet's next game is at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.