Lewis Dickman has moved into the loan market to bolster his squad with the arrival of highly rated defender Ben Hockenhull from League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers.

The 22-year-old centre-back has joined Moors on a one-month loan deal as Dickman looks to strengthen his hand ahead of a hectic run of National League North fixtures.

A former Manchester United trainee, Hockenhull was on the books at Old Trafford from the age of six and progressed to begin a scholarship in Old Trafford in 2018.

In the summer of 2020, Brentford paid an undisclosed fee to take him to West London where he was part of their B Team which won the London Senior Cup in 2021/22.

In all he made 54 appearances for Brentford B before joining Tranmere on a two-year deal in the summer of 2022 and he made his debut in their 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy.

Hockenhull gained further senior experience with a loan spell at Warrington Rylands last term, while he also spent a month on loan with National League North outfit Chorley earlier this season.

“I’m delighted to be joining Spennymoor on loan,” Hockenhull told us.

“I had a couple of options in the same league but, after speaking to the Manager and the Head of Football, this is where I wanted to go.

“I can’t wait to get started and help the lads push for promotion and show the fans what I can do.”

The young defender has been handed squad number 14 and will go straight into contention to make his Moors debut in Saturday’s game against Boston United, subject to the usual clearances.