Maidstone have signed defender Jake McCarthy on loan from Premier League Bournemouth until the end of the season.

Stones have been in the market for a centre-half and McCarthy, 20, fits the bill.

He’s highly rated by Dean Court boss Eddie Howe, has trained with the first team and previously been out on loan in non-league with Havant and AFC Totton.

The deal was set up by Stones assistant boss Nicky Southall, who has contacts at Bournemouth.

Stones manager Jay Saunders has done his homework on McCarthy, watching a video of him in action against Italian giants AC Milan in a pre-season friendly.

Saunders said: "It’s taken a week or so but we got there and he’ll do well for us.

"He’s obviously coming from the Premier League, he’s someone that’s keen to go out and play first-team football.

"They think highly of him there so we’re thankful they’ve let him out to us and not only can he play centre-half, he can play holding midfield as well, so it gives us more options.

"He’s got a slight knock on his ankle so probably this weekend will be too soon but he’s back in training and we’re probably looking more like the following week, if not this weekend."

On handing him a new pro deal two years ago, Cherries manager Howe told the Bournemouth Echo: “He has trained with the first team for a long period of time and I think that and the exposure to our way of working has really seen his game come on so we are hopeful he will have a good career in front of him.”

League 1 Gillingham have also done a deal with Bournemouth for two of their young attacking players.