Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler has agreed a half-season loan deal for Gillingham's Henry Woods.

The 21-year-old midfielder moves to Crabble with the new campaign starting on August 21 at home to Solihull Moors.

Woods is on the fringes of the Gills set-up and boss Steve Evans believes he will benefit from regular football at National League level. He has just agreed a new one-year deal at Priestfield.

"Henry has been involved with the first team for quite a while and Steve wanted him to get some games under his belt," said Hessenthaler.

"Mark Patterson has worked with him before and said he is ready to step up and get regular games.

"It's a no-brainer for us and being my old club as well, there's no travelling for the lad as we're local.

"Everyone I've spoken to talks highly of him and it will be good for his education. Everyone knows what this league is about."

Dover struggled for goals from midfield last season. It's an area Hessenthaler believes Woods can help them with.

"At Gillingham he played more of a holding role, we'll be looking for him to get into the box as well," stated the Dover boss.

"That's an area we need to improve. We've got good legs in midfield with Ryan Hanson, who can play that holding role, and TJ Bramble, who has got amazing energy.

"It doesn't matter which way we play, we need to get bodies into the box from midfield.

"TJ has got to join in and support the front players when the ball is played up to them, and if the ball goes wide then he needs to get into the area - it would be the same for Henry."

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