Mansfield Town have signed highly-rated striker Billy Kee on loan from Scunthorpe United after loaning out striker Ollier Palmer and seeing keeper Dimitar Evtimov and defenders Luke Waterfall and Kieron Freeman return to Nottingham Forest, Scunthorpe and Derby County at the end of their loan periods at Once Call Stadium.

Kee (24), enjoyed a prolific three-year spell at former club Burton Albion, scoring 39 goals in 99 league appearances, 70 of them starts, before joining Scunthorpe.

After capturing the much-coveted frontman, manager Adam Murray said: “Billy has been much sought after in this transfer window by other League Two clubs, positioned higher in the table than ourselves.

“For a while now, we have been in much need of a proven ‘fox in the box’ at this level and Billy is someone who has consistently scored goals throughout his career.

“He is proven at this level and understands what it takes to win. He is a strong character, and after talking to a lot of people in the game, he is exactly what we need right now.”