DORCHESTER Town have sent midfielder Mike Lilley on a three-month loan to Willand Rovers.

Lilley, 19, signed a one-year contract with the Magpies after joining from Exeter City in the summer.

However, injury and illness has hampered the former Grecian in his bid to break consistently into the first team.

He has made just four appearances since signing and only featured once for the Magpies' under-23s this season.

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Dorchester boss Glenn Howes told the Magpies' official website: "Mikey has found it difficult to break into the side due to having a disrupted pre-season program and the start of the season due to illness, and with the form of our current squad.

"He’s at such a tender young age that it’s much better for him in this period to go out and get some games with Willand.

"He’ll still be in with us training once a week so we can keep him involved and around us.”

Willand are sitting 11th in Southern League South Division One, one tier below Dorchester.

Lilley could make his Rovers debut on Saturday at Westbury.