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Archived News from October 2002

REMINDER OF YOUTH GAME TONIGHT
15th October 2002 17:54


... at Field Mill / Plus News of Reserves friendly


Mansfield youth team begin their FA Youth Cup campaign against Rushden and Diamonds at Field Mill tonight.

Kick-off is at 7pm and admission is £3 for adults, £1 concessions.
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STAGS PONDER CLARK'S FUTURE
Evening Post, 15 October 2002

Peter Clark's future at Mansfield Town will be discussed today after the left back, currently on loan from Stockport County, broke down again with a recurrence of his knee injury.

Clark picked up the injury during training on Friday and was unable to take his place on the bench for Saturday's goalless draw at Peterborough.

He has three weeks left on his two-month loan deal and it is possible that he will be sent back to Edgeley Park early.

The original deal was set up by Stags chairman Keith Haslam, who is a friend of County boss Carlton Palmer.

Should the former Carlisle defender return, it could free up money for manager Stuart Watkiss to bring in another player on loan.

The Stags boss said: "Peter has got this problem and it looks as if he will be out for two or three weeks.

"He is in his fifth week and I am waiting to speak to the chairman to see what the situation is."

Clark was replaced on the bench by Allen Tankard, who is fighting back from a knee injury that has kept him out all season.

Stags have arranged a reserve match at Port Vale today in order to give Tankard another game before Saturday's clash with Huddersfield Town but Watkiss said he will not be rushed into making changes to his defence after they kept their first clean sheet this season.

He said: "We have set this game up against Port Vale to give Allen a run out.

"He needs another game but it would not be fair for me to drop any of the back four after Saturday."

Changes elsewhere also appear to be unlikely, although Lee Williamson has now served he three-match suspension following his Worthington Cup sending off against Derby.

Watkiss said: "It is going to prove very difficult to leave anyone out at the moment but there will be players trying hard to get into the team and others are going to find it a massive battle to keep their shirt.

"Players in the team now know that there are others waiting in the wings.

"The defenders know that Tanks is fit again and the centre halves know that I have got someone who could fill in their position at left back."

Watkiss believes the fact the injury list has eased over the last few weeks has had an effect on performances.
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Posted by Martin Shaw

 

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