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Archived News from January 2005

PREVIEW AND TEAM NEWS
21st January 2005 14:26


IT'S JELLEYMAN TO THE RESCUE
Evening Post, 21 January 2005
THE LATEST FROM FIELD MILL WITH MARK ROACH

Gareth Jelleyman looks set to start at left-back as injury-plagued Mansfield take on high-flying Southend.

The Peterborough defender was set to complete a medical today before completing a permanent switch from London Road on Monday.

Carlton Palmer's plans suffered another setback this week with the news that defender Dave Artell will be out of action for at least two months, after developing deep vein thrombosis.

With fellow defenders Adam Eaton, Rhys Day and Scott McNiven all out and Joel Kitamirike now at Dundee, the Stags caretaker boss is desperately short of defensive cover.

It's not much better in midfield, with Tom Curtis out of action, Paul Warne back at Rotherham, Adam Murray and Fraser McLachlan doubtful and Leighton Maxwell short on fitness.

Curtis could be fit enough to be involved at Lincoln on January 29.

But his movement will be restricted until he has a shoulder operation at the end of the season and he won't be able to take throw-ins.

Jelleyman, who has been out of action with a hamstring injury, was unable to complete his medical yesterday and has been signed on a short-term loan deal.

He was expected to undergo a full medical today and is expected to sign a permanent deal on Monday.

Jelleyman and Jake Buxton are expected to play in the full-back spots tomorrow and Alex Neil could start in midfield.

Derek Asamoah and Simon Brown are also in contention for starting places.

"It will go to the wire with Adam and Fraser," said Palmer, who added that Jason Talbot - whose loan spell was cut short by a toe injury - will not play for Stags again following the capture of Jelleyman.

Meanwhile, Neil MacKenzie is expected to complete his permanent switch to Macclesfield following a medical.

"It looks like I'll be signing today," said the midfielder, who has been on loan at Moss Rose since November.

MacKenzie, who was fined a week's wages by Mansfield after criticising Palmer, added: "I'm pleased that it's been resolved.

"I heard that Mansfield might want me to go back and I would have played my best."

"I've only played two games at Macclesfield so far and we won both, but getting the knee injury was a nightmare."

Palmer said he had agreed a deal with another club - thought to be Boston - if Mackenzie's switch to Macclesfield did not go through. Mansfield will receive a 'nominal fee' for the player.

"He's a talented player but I want to play 4-4-2 and I don't believe he can play in a 4-4-2," he said.

MANSFIELD (from): Pilkington, Jelleyman, Buxton, Dimech, John-Baptiste, Neil, Murray, McLachlan, Corden, Brown, Barker, Larkin, Asamoah, Maxwell, Smeltz, Rundle, White, Wood, Lloyd.

KEEPER RULED OUT OF GAME
Evening Post, 21 January 2005
Southend will be without goalkeeper Bart Griemink, who sustained medial ligament damage in both knees in the game against Notts County.

Darryl Flahavan, back after a heel injury, deputises.

Defender Andy Wedwards (hamstring) and midfielders Jim Corbett (ankle) and Mark Bentley (one match ban) are all missing.

Duncan Jupp, out since December with a leg injury, looks set for a place on the bench, while Michael Kightley has been recalled form a loan spell at Farnborough.

Southend (from): Flahavan, Hunt, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Gower, Maher, Pettefer, Nicolau, Eastwood, Dudfield, Bramble, Gray, Jupp, Kightly, Morgan.
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Jelleyman set for debut
CHAd website

GARETH Jelleyman will make his Mansfield Town debut in Saturday's visit of Southend United (3pm).
The highly-rated former Welsh U21 left back joined Stags on a temporary loan today and should sign on a permanent basis on Monday following a medical.
His arrival will free up Jake Buxton to play in his favoured right back role which will see probably Alex Neil partner Adam Murray in the centre of midfield against the Shrimpers.
Jelleyman (24) had been forced to wait for the move while he shrugged off a hamstring injury.
Mansfield caretaker-manager Carlton Palmer said: "The deal was set up a long time ago.
"Barry Fry didn't want him to go and he had other options. Swansea wanted him as did clubs in higher divisions and he could have earned more money there so we are delighted he has chosen to come here.
"He is a good player and naturally left sided so we can play him at full back or in midfield. That will be great next season if we have Adam Eaton fit as well. It will give us options.
"I just told the lad to make sure he was 100 per cent fit before he signed. I wanted him bang on before we got things going.
"Barry was reluctant to let him go but he has a lot of players at Peterborough and said he wouldn't stand in his way and would honour the deal agreed, even though he would have picked him for his side this Saturday.
"The only reason we couldn't get Gareth's medical sorted out today is that the surgeon is operating on Adam Eaton today so we will sort it out on Monday.
"All credit to the chairman as well for coming in after a 23-hour flight to rubber stamp the deal."
Adam Murray needs an operation to clear out some ankle debris. But he feels fit enough to play on Saturday.
"If it locks then at least we know what the problem is," said Palmer. "But we are hoping to get away with it for as long as we possibly can.
"Both Fraser McLachlan and Tom Curtis are keen to play. But both are only 90 per cent fit and I don't really want to risk them."
That will leave a midfield slot which Palmer expects Alex Neil to relish.
"Alex has done very well for me out of position at right back in recent games," he said.
"After the way he has played it would have been unfair on the lad to have been left out. So this will be a chance for him to play in his own position and show me what he can do."
Palmer said the question of his own future with the club would not be looked at until next week.
He said: "The chairman is not back in full time until Monday and with everything else that's going on, my job is the last thing I wanted to talk about.
"Hopefully we will get a good result at the weekend and then we can talk early next week."
Stags ended Southend's unbeaten run with a 1-0 win at Roots Hall on 28th December.
Palmer said: "If we can get a win on Saturday that will be four points in two games again which, if we keep it up, will be good enough to get us into the play-off.
"We are on a good run right now and I am keen to keep it going."

 

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