DORCHESTER Town midfielder Ollie Griggs is thankful for a “productive” one-month loan spell at Winchester City.

Griggs, 19, has suffered an injury-plagued season and has subsequently found his starting XI opportunities limited at the Avenue Stadium.

But, following a five-game stint with the Citizens, who ply their trade one league below the Magpies in the Evo-Stik West, Griggs feels he has come back “fitter and stronger”.

Asked what other benefits he had obtained, Griggs told Echosport: “Confidence from the spell and getting back on the ball, getting the touch back, all round awareness, the first few yards and getting in the swing of things playing week in, week out.

“I was quite heavy-legged after the first 90 minutes but I’ve come back fitter and stronger ready for the end of the season.

“I thought the spell was really productive. I needed it, to be honest, with the injury I had and being out for so long. I just needed a run of games.

“Tommo (Steve Thompson, manager) and I spoke and thought it was best to get some games for a month and then come back fresh and fitter ready for the last period of the season, and hopefully for next season.

“I played mostly in midfield and right-back, which is just another position I can play. Tommo knows that as well.”

And Griggs already has an eye on next season, with the teenager hoping to better the poor start the Magpies made to the current campaign.

He said: “The start of the season was quite hard with the run of games we had. I think that gave us a very poor start, meaning we couldn’t push on.

“Hopefully next season if we get a better start I believe that we will push on and be higher up the table rather than being lower down. It all comes down to the lads working hard.”