Striker Kristian Dennis had to put in the hard yards to make it into the Football League.

After starting his career with Macclesfield he drifted into the non-league scene and ended up playing for Woodley Sports, Mossley and Curzon Ashton.

A clinical and problematic striker, he always seemed to have goal in him in those divisions and eventually he found himself with Stockport County in the Conference North. Goals followed him and very soon, Football League clubs sat up and took note.

A prolific loan spell with Macclesfield convinced Chesterfield to take him on. He bagged 30 goals in 91 outings before they were eventually relegated to the National League, resulting in him joining Notts County in the summer.

He was part of a huge push by the Magpies to get out of League Two. He joined at the same time as Crawley winger Enzio Boldewijn and former Rangers striker Kane Hemmings. They were supposed to challenge for promotion.

The plan to escape League Two has worked, in a way. Notts County are bottom of the division and Kristian Dennis is out on loan, leaving for Grimsby after failing to impress new manager Neal Ardley, his third boss of the season.

He bagged five times for the Magpies, but only started 13 League Two matches. His loan move was doubtless designed to get him game time and maybe accrue value, but he's flopped at Grimsby too.

He's started just two matches in the league, scoring once, but has not impressed.

As a player who has handled rejection at an early age and seen the less salubrious side of lower league football, Dennis will be hugely disappointed. His hard work and endeavour has not paid off and he's being afforded little chance to display his skills.

The Grimsby move will surely be something he still believes in, Notts County provides a toxic environment right now, but he's got to be hoping the final eight games of the season bring a chance to put himself in the shop window.

If it doesn't, he risks dropping back to the level he fought tooth and nail to escape from for many years.