Dover Athletic teenager Henry Young speaks glowingly of his partnership with captain James Dunne in midfield as he returns from suspension

Teenager Henry Young has spoken glowingly of his relationship with Dover skipper James Dunne.

Young has been one of the standout performers for a Whites side who again appear to be battling to avoid National League South relegation this season.

The 18-year-old midfielder returned to Dover’s starting line-up after a three-match ban for Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to promotion-chasing Hampton & Richmond Borough and was reunited with his captain, 34-year-old former Football League player Dunne, in the engine room.

“We have played a fair few games together,” said Young. “We know how each other plays.

“He has been in my position before. He’s always trying to get the best out of me. He doesn’t treat us as young boys at this level but he has tried to teach me and push me on.

“Off the pitch, we have got a good relationship as well. He has a bit of banter with me but, also, a more serious side. It’s been good.”

Young’s first-team return didn’t quite go to plan last weekend, though, after a successful pitch inspection on a miserable day.

The second-bottom team again held their own against a club at the other end of the division, but were undone by Jake Gray’s second-half strike, despite a stoppage-time sending off for away defender Dean Inman.

Young reflected: “Definitely in the first half, I came in and I felt we were dictating the game. We were playing good football, changing the point of attack.

“Second half - I don’t know why - but we sort of changed how we played.

“As Brunds (manager Mitch Brundle) said in his interview afterwards, they sucker-punched us. We just didn’t get the goal we wanted.

“The way we played was positive at least - that’s been the same against the top sides. We have been playing well and competing. We just