Dale's Jordan Scanlon has joined Northern Premier League side Ashton United on a month-long loan.
The Robins currently sit 12th in the table and face Stalybridge Celtic at home this Saturday.
Scanlon signed his first professional contract with Dale in the summer, but picked up an injury in pre-season which kept him out of action until last month.
"He’s very highly thought of," said Jim Bentley.
"Tony and his team do a great job with the academy. Jordan is one of those players who has come through that system.
"He’s done well and earnt himself a pro contract, but he had an injury in pre-season and hasn’t had much football. He needs to play games and it will aid his development. It will hopefully get him to where we want him to be.
"At this present moment, we think a month away at Ashton, at a decent level, he can play some games and improve, so that when he comes back into our environment, we see signs of improvement, and he can only do that by playing."
Good luck, Jordan!