Dover Athletic sign Millwall goalkeeper Ryan Sandford on initial one-month loan ahead of National League South opener at Worthing

Dover have signed a goalkeeper on loan ahead of their season opener.

Whites moved to bring in Ryan Sandford, 23, after experienced former Gillingham stopper Stuart Nelson injured his hamstring in their 1-0 loss at Folkestone on Saturday.

Sandford joined Dover on Thursday on an initial one-month loan from Championship club Millwall ahead of their trip to Worthing in National League South this weekend having last season had a brief stint at Maidstone.

“It looks like he’s going to struggle,” manager Andy Hessenthaler said of Nelson.

“I have managed to get one in on loan - it’s a lad from Millwall, Ryan Sandford. He went to Maidstone last season on loan so he knows this level.

“Stuart might only be [out for] two weeks but we need to make sure he’s 100% right.

“Ryan will come in and, obviously, play on Saturday.”

Sandford has previously had loan stints with Dorking and Welling.

It is the Crabble club's third signing of the day, having already brought in frontman Chike Kandi while teenage Academy graduate Alex Green has penned his first professional contract.