Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl on Academy graduates ‘quite unbelievable’ attitudes as midfielder George Wilkinson makes 100th club appearance in 2-1 win at Cheshunt

The attitudes of Dover’s Academy graduates have been hailed as “quite unbelievable” by boss Jake Leberl.

Whites responded from their defeat to struggling Cray Wanderers with last weekend’s 2-1 Isthmian Premier victory at Cheshunt.

Those who have progressed from Dover’s youth-team system, led by Academy manager and first-team No.2 Mike Sandmann, have been vital behind the leaders’ success this season as midfielder George Wilkinson made his 100th club appearance at Cheshunt.

Leberl said: “It’s been tough for these Academy boys.

“They have been through a heck of a lot, working in the National League and working with different managers. They have been in and out a bit and George has been out on loan previously [at Wingate & Finchley]. But full credit goes to these boys and Mike.

“George got left out the other week and Henry Young isn’t in the squad but the attitude of these boys is quite unbelievable!

“I have never experienced attitudes that are as good as these boys’ ones are.

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“I think it’s going to hold them in really good stead for their careers. To get 100 games at such a young age, that’s a real credit to Wilko.

“He’s such a fantastic player.”

Wilkinson, 20, has been on trial with Stoke. Leberl wants to see some of the club’s current crop follow defender Sean Raggett and midfielder Mitch Pinnock - who he worked with when he was Chris Kinnear’s assistant - in heading into the Football League one day.

“I want the boys to progress,” said Leberl.

“I’d love to see another group of boys in the Football League, like we had here before, with Pinnock and Raggett. We really want to produce that conveyor belt.

“But something the boys have got to understand, they have got to get their games