Premier League defender Jake McCarthy will have to earn his place in Maidstone’s starting XI.

Stones are thrilled to sign the 20-year-old from Bournemouth on loan for the rest of the season.

The Cherries have been first class to deal with and have left it down to United how much they use the young centre-half, who played in a friendly against AC Milan last summer.

Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “There’s no pressure from Bournemouth at all.

“I think they understand the position we’re in. If he’s doing well he’ll play, the same as everyone else.

“Personally, I wouldn’t take a loan signing if a club said they had to play.

“I’ve been offered a couple of people where the clubs have said if they don’t play then we have to pay the full wage.

“It’s a way of trying to force you to play them but I’m not one for ultimatums like that, otherwise players come in with the wrong attitude if they know they’re going to be playing every week no matter what.

A minor ankle injury is set to rule McCarthy out of Maidstone’s National League home game against Aldershot tomorrow (Saturday) but he should be fit for the relegation scrap at York next week.

He’s the fifth new signing in three weeks as Maidstone fight relegation, while a free agent defender who’s played more than 300 Football League games is training with United and could be the next to join if he proves his fitness.

Saunders said: “Players aren’t silly. If you’re top of the table and you start bringing players in then people can question it.

“But when you’re down the bottom and conceding goals and not winning then people realise they can’t argue.”

Delano Sam-Yorke (groin) and Jamie Coyle (illness) are back but Yemi Odubade (foot) remains sidelined as United look to climb out of the bottom four against an Aldershot side chasing a play-off place.