Archived News from September 2006
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PREVIEWS AND TEAM NEWS
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SHEEHAN EXPECTS END TO LOAN AS FOXES TALK OF ROLE
Evening Post, 12 September 2006 Alan Sheehan today revealed he is likely to be a Mansfield player for just a month - but he has not ruled out a longer stay. The Irish under 21 international has impressed at left-back since joining on loan from Leicester City. It is still unclear when Gareth Jelleyman will return following after knee ligament damage, so Mansfield may be keen to extend the deal. Sheehan insists he has been told by Blues boss Rob Kelly that he is wanted back at the Walker's Stadium when his loan finishes. However, he is willing to consider remaining at Field Mill should his manager change his mind and all his attention is focused on tight's clash at Hartlepool. "The gaffer at Leicester said to me that it was only of a month and that he wanted me back after that," said Sheehan. "I am a Leicester player and hopefully I am part of his plans but I am enjoying playing here and we'll have to see what happens. "Whatever happens, I am going to give 100% to the Mansfield cause while I am here." Although he has now only been at the club for a week, Sheehan has slotted effortlessly into the Mansfield dressing room. The Athlone-born youngster knows Stephen Dawson well - they used to be housemates - and has struck up a good relationship with the rest of the players too. He said: "I have found them to be a cracking bunch of lads and they have made me feel right at home. I got a good reception from the crowd for my first game and that was great too. I feel that I have fitted right in and, hopefully, that has shown in my performances. "It was good to get the win against Hereford in my first game because the lads needed it and it was also a good way for me to start. "It was my first game in six to eight weeks so I found it hard-going but I was glad to last as long as I did, which was 87 minutes." Meanwhile, Stags striker Chris Beardsley feels the time has come for Mansfield to stop making excuses and make their mark in league two. He feels the team has still to show its true potential, despite the cracking 4-1 defeat of Hereford on Saturday. Before that, Stags had lost their previous two games, and Beardsley said: "We need to take more responsibility for what we are doing. At the moment there is too much feeling sorry for ourselves when we draw and lose. "We have to be a little bit more professional and not so na??ve. We have to make sure we are a hard team to play against and close games out when we are in front." Beardsley has been limited to just a handful of substitute appearances since returning from a broken leg. But he is confident he can make an impression in the first team - if given the chance to prove himself to Peter Shirtliff. He said: "I got two goals against Chesterfield in a friendly match last week and scoring always gives your confidence a boost. "I was also happy with the way that I linked up play in the second half and I'm now fit, raring to go and wanting to get out on the pitch. But you can only do so much in training and what matters is what you do out there on a Saturday afternoon. "With me having been out for such a long time I feel I would be fresh and offer something different but, of course, it's down to the gaffer. "At times this season we have been very close to being a very good side but we have made too many individual errors and missed some good chances. That has put the pressure on, particularly in away games." Mansfield are sweating on the fitness of Simon Brown, who picked up a dead leg in the 4-1 win over Hereford at the weekend. Jon-Olav Hjelde (groin) also faces a fitness test but Gareth Jelleyman is definitely out. Hartlepool have just one player out - Mark Tinkler with an Achilles problem. They have also loaned Ritchie Humphreys to Port Vale. ----------- Stags wait on Brown ahead of long hauls CHAD website, 11 September 2006 STAGS could begin the first leg of their mammoth 700 miles in five days away haul tomorrow without speedy striker Simon Brown. Brown is still suffering with the dead leg he suffered in Saturday's 4-1 hammering of Hereford United as Mansfield prepare to travel up to Hartlepool United tomorrow (7.45pm kick off) ahead of Saturday's gruelling trip to Torquay United. "Simon has got a dead leg and it is still quite sore and swollen," said manager Peter Shirtliff. "But we are not ruling him out yet. These things do tend to settle down quite quickly. "We are just keeping our fingers crossed at the moment. The injury is not as bad as it first looked." Defender Jon Olav Hjelde returned to training today after recovering from a groin injury. But tomorrow will probably come too quickly for him and he is more likely to be back in the squad on Saturday if he can regain his full fitness. Shirtliff is not worring too much about the miles ahead of his side this week and said: "There is not a lot you can do about it is there? "We are not looking for excuses. I want a positive reaction from the players and they are full of confidence after the win against Hereford." Hartlepool have made a disappointing start after their relegation last season and have only picked up six points from their first seven games under manager Danny Wilson. "I know Danny well," said Shirtliff. "We were at Sheffield Wednesday together and he gave me my first coaching job at Barnsley. "He likes his teams to try to play football and we will have to be on our toes as it will probably be a decent passing game. Hopefully we can play our football." |
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