He joined Tranmere in the summer following an impressive season at Chester, but since joining Dover on loan, things have not gone well for the man who was once on the books at Stoke and Ipswich.
Alabi’s move to Tranmere ended up costing Rovers £22,500, but he failed to make an impact and was soon moved on to Dover on loan for the season.
Despite a goal-scoring debut against Eastleigh – whom Dover are also playing tonight – back in November, the big striker soon found himself in a fight for a starting place. He nearly joined Ebbsfleet in January, though neither Dover nor Tranmere seemed to know too much about that.
When that move fell through, Alabi had to return to Dover as they had previously agreed to take him for the remainder season. He was welcomed back in to the fold at the Crabbie Ground, but he’s barely been seen since from a playing perspective.
His last appearance for Dover came as a 75th minute substitute against Sutton on 10th February, and he was last seen on the substitute’s bench 10 days later. Since then, the big striker seems to have fallen way down the pecking order.
Alabi’s cause wasn’t helped by Dover’s decision to sign striker Keanu Marsh-Brown on loan in mid-March, but even that was nearly a month after he last forced his way in to Dover’s match day 16.
So, as Dover travel to Eastleigh tonight (Tuesday), there will be no repeat of Alabi’s debut heroics against the Hampshire outfit – again he’s absent from the 16. There seems to be no news of any injury or other updates that may explain Alabi’s absence from the squad, so you’d have to assume he’s missing out due to performances on the training ground.
Confirmation of both line-ups. pic.twitter.com/ic6sqsJBJR
— DAFC LiveText (@DAFCLiveText) 27 March 2018
One thing is for absolute certain; Alabi will not feature against Tranmere in Friday’s crucial clash on the south coast – even if he was in favour, he would not be allowed to due to the terms of his loan deal.
We may see him next when Rovers begin pre-season preparations in July, unless he has moved on before then.
George Waring – unused substitute
Meanwhile, a fellow summer striking arrival at Prenton Park, George Waring, is still out on loan at Kidderminster. His new team was involved in an eye-catching balls-up on Saturday, throwing away a 4-0 lead at home to Salford in the last 10 minutes to draw 4-4.
Incidentally, ex-Rovers’ full-back Lee Vaughan was on the scoresheet for Kiddy, while Waring was an unused sub. The striker, like Alabi at Dover, scored on his debut for Kidderminster in January.
However, he has yet to start a game for the National League North side and has only managed 30 minutes of game time this month.
