Archived News from January 2007
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COKE OUT FOR THE SEASON
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Coke injury shocker
CHAD website, 26 January 2007 STAGS boss Billy Dearden urgently needs to bring in a new central midfielder before the midweek transfer deadline after shock news over Giles Coke today. The youngster will now be out for the season after what was expected to be a routine operation on a cartilage tear yesterday found the damage to be far more extensive than first feared. Coke was only going to be out for around a month but Dearden said this morning: "The season in finished for the poor lad and I feel sorry for him. ""It's dreadful news for the kid and bad news for the team as I thought he had been playing very well. "It was supposed to be a bit of a clean up but once they got in there the damage to the cartilage was a lot worse than they thought. They repaired it but it will be a good five months before he can play again." Coke had just started to hit form again in recent weeks and also become a father.But he was stretchered off at Accrington Stanley just over a week ago. Dearden had already stated he was looking for a central midfielder to bolster his small squad and will now be stepping up the hunt though has had no joy from the players he has asked about so far, ------------ WE CAN TAKE ON ANYONE Evening Post, 27 January 2007 Callum Lloyd today called on his Mansfield team-mates to produce the goods week in and week out - not just on the big occasion. Saturday's 2-1 victory over leaders Walsall means the Stags have now beaten the current top three sides at home - the others being Swindon and MK Dons. But Mansfield's record against some of League Two's lesser lights is not so impressive. Midfielder Lloyd, 21, is hoping that is something the Stags squad can rectify during the rest of the season, starting with today's trip to Chester. "We have done well against the big sides, especially at home, and we do fancy our chances against anyone at Field Mill," he said. "But we do seem to struggle against some of the smaller clubs. We are not as consistent as we would like to be. Everyone can lift themselves against the top teams, but getting results in the matches against teams like Accrington Stanley (where Mansfield recently lost) is where we can look to improve. "Unless you can beat sides like that, as well as those at the top, then you aren't going to move up the league. "We just have to concentrate all the time, no matter who we are playing, and make sure that we are motivated." Lloyd has often filled in on the left side of the midfield, despite his first-choice position being in the centre. But he admits his appearance at right-back against the Saddlers - when Johnny Mullins was forced off with an ankle injury - was a first for him. Lloyd said: "I haven't played there before but it was all right - I did ok I think. "I think I filled in at left-back once, but that was when I was still playing in the youth team. "There was nothing to lose from our point of view playing Walsall, even though we knew we needed a result. "I thought they would come at us strongly at the end, but apart from the one that Jake (Buxton) cleared off the line we were pretty comfortable. "It does give us confidence now. It is a good feeling to beat the team which is top of the league." Giles Coke is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. |
Latest | January 2007