Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl already dealing with injury headaches as National League South complete signing of striker Sonny Fish

Boss Jake Leberl is already dealing with some Dover Athletic injury headaches.

Whites will end a run of warm-up matches at home against Isthmian Premier Carshalton Athletic this Saturday (kick-off 1pm) before, seven days later, they start the National League South season at newly-promoted Billericay.

But influential striker Ruben Soares-Junior will not have returned from knee surgery he’s had over the summer in time for their opener while midfielders Euan Williams (calf) and George Wilkinson (knee), alongside Harry Beadle (foot), are nursing knocks.

Right-back John Oyenuga also came off in the first half of last weekend’s 1-0 win against Burgess Hill.

“You’re talking about five or six players,” said Leberl, whose men drew 2-2 in a midweek home match against Isthmian South East Herne Bay.

“They were not available against Herne Bay and are doubtful for our last pre-season game this Saturday.

“That’s not really ideal. Hopefully, we don’t pick up any more knocks and injuries.

“Being a small squad, a lot of games are won and lost off the bench, and we don’t want to be leaving ourselves short.

“We really don’t want to pick anything else up.

“Hopefully, those out can get back fit in time for the start of the season.”

Depleted numbers have helped to afford first-team chances in pre-season to the club’s young players, though, including teenage defender Enyinnaya Ezenwanne.

Leberl said: “Enyi has had an opportunity in pre-season and I think he has done exceptionally well.

“It’s the physicality side that will set them back. A lot of the boys are good enough footballers, but Enyi isn’t a normal academy boy in that sense because he is built like a man.

“He has done really well.”

Saturday’s 1-0 victory against the Hillians was only a