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Archived News from February 2018

STAGS SIGN MATT PENNEY ON LOAN FROM SHEFF WED
7th February 2018 10:38


Stags win race to sign gifted attacking wide midfield player
mansfieldtown.net, Wed 31 Jan 2018

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans has won the race to sign attacking wide midfield player Matt Penney on loan from Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season.

The versatile 19-year-old becomes the Stags’ first Deadline Day signing, while a deal for an additional signing is currently being worked on.

Penney joined the Owls’ academy at the age of eight and progressed through the ranks at Hillsborough before signing his first professional contract in October 2015.

After a loan spell with League One side Bradford City last season, the gifted teenager returned to Hillsborough in the summer and has featured heavily for the Owls’ U23s this season, who sit top of the Premier Development League 2.

Earlier this month, Penney signed a contract extension with Wednesday - who hold high hopes for the youngster - which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2019.

Boss Steve Evans told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: “Matt is a young man who will bring a lot to our group.

“He plays very stylishly in either wide area after being developed at Wednesday from the attacking full-back position.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/stags-win-race-to-sign-gifted-attacking-wide-midfield-player/

“The lad is young, very talented and in agreement with myself was previous Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal who stated that young Matt was more than ready to make a great impression at first team level.

“We are grateful to Sheffield Wednesday for selecting our approach for Matt in preference to at least six or seven League One and Two clubs.

“Again I must acknowledge the work of Carolyn Radford [chief executive officer] who worked tirelessly on this over last weekend.”

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Penney raring to go after completing loan move
mansfieldtown.net

Versatile wide midfield player Matt Penney is aiming to prove why he deserves a place in the Stags' starting XI after joining on loan from Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.

Stags started the Deadline Day by announcing the signing of the 19-year-old until the end of the season, before unveiling frontman Ricky Miller, who joined on loan from Peterborough United, an hour before the window slammed shut last night.

And Penney, who has been a stand-out performer for the Owls U23s over the last two seasons, is hoping to make his mark on the remainder of the Stags' Sky Bet League Two campaign.

"I'm delighted to join the club. I spoke to the gaffer and everyone sounds positive, so I can't wait to get started. I'm looking to get some proper first team games under my belt and get going," Penney said.

"At this point in my career, I need first team minutes so it's about me now getting into the first team and keeping the shirt and hopefully I can prove to the gaffer and prove to the fans that I deserve a chance and I can go out and help the team.

"I've seen some of the results recently and the lads are doing really well so hopefully I can help the lads and push for promotion.

"Everyone comes in and everyone's aim is to play football but my first aim is to get in the team, get the shirt and keep the shirt."

Penney revealed that a number of clubs were vying for his signature during the transfer window, but he wanted to move to One Call Stadium after speaking to manager Steve Evans.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/february/penney-raring-to-go-after-completing-loan-move/

"There were a few clubs asking but I spoke to the gaffer the other night and it sounded positive. Everything he said I agreed with so I got back on the phone with my agent and finally got the deal over the line.

"He knows I've got talent; he's just told me to work hard, show what I can do and he says it'll be a great loan move for me if I do that.

"It's a bit nervous coming into somewhere you're not used to but I've met the gaffer, met the lads and everyone sounds positive. I can't wait to get started really."

Much like fellow loanee Adam King, who put pen-to-paper at One Call Stadium from Swansea City earlier this week, Penney is relishing the prospect of competing for an important three points in every Sky Bet League Two match.

"I think it'll be hard, I think it'll be a challenge. Obviously it'll be a lot more physical than what I'm used to but I can't wait to get started and show the fans and the gaffer what I'm all about.

"Obviously every game is a lot, lot more important now. Every game's massive; obviously we're going into every game to win the game so hopefully we can get three points in every game."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view Matt Penney's first interview since joining the club.

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Teen prospect Penney can’t wait to impress for Mansfield
chad.co.uk, JOHN LOMAS

Sheffield Wednesday teen prospect Matt Penney can’t wait to show Mansfield Town fans his talents after completing his loan move down the M1 to the One Call Stadium last night. Penney has been at Hillsborough since the age of eight and the 19-year-old has only had one taste of League football in a single game at Bradford City last season. But he is highly rated at Wednesday and Stags did well to pip bigger clubs to his signature. “Obviously I am delighted to join the club - it’s a big club,” said Penney “I’ve only played U23s, though I had one game for Bradford last season away at Rochdale. “So I’m looking to get some proper first team experience now and get going.”?Penney explained his attributes. “I bring quite a bit to the table,” he said. “I think in that final third I can help the lads even more than what they’re doing at the minute. “I am versatile - I can play a number of positions. I can do a job at left full back or I am easily capable on left or right midfield. “But I don’t really have a favourite position. As long as I am playing I am happy. “I am energetic, quite quick, and bring a high work rate - I work hard for the team. “I have a good left foot on me and I will hopefully chip in a goal every now and again and grab an assist every now and again. “I am a very positive player and looking to play forward all the time. “Fingers crossed I can help with the promotion push.” Penney weighed up his options this week and decided to join Stags after speaking to boss Steve Evans. Penney explained: “There were a few clubs asking, but I spoke to the gaffer the other night and he sounded positive. “Everything he said I agreed with, so I got back on the phone to my agent and finally got the deal over the line. “At this stage of my career, I need first team minutes. It’s about me now getting into the first team and keeping the shirt. Hopefully I can prove to the gaffer and to the fans that I deserve a chance to go out and help the team.” Penney is under no illusions about League Two football. “I think it will be hard,” he admitted. “It will be a challenge. “It will obviously be a lot more physical than what I am used to, but I can’t wait to get started and show the gaffer and the fans what I’m all about. “Every game is a lot more important now. In League Two football every game is massive with three points at stake. “I’d seen some of Mansfield’s results recently and the team and the lads are doing really well. Hopefully I can help the push for promotion. That’s the main aim. “First I need to get in the team, get a shirt and keep the shirt.” The Owls have encouraged Penney to impress on the loan. “Sheffield Wednesday said go out there, be yourself, show them what you can do and you should be fine,” he said. “The gaffer here knows I have got talent so he’s just told me to work hard and show what I can do and it will be a great loan move for me if I do that.”

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/teen-prospect-penney-can-t-wait-to-impress-for-mansfield-1-8995520

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Penney moves to Mansfield
swfc.co.uk

Owls youngster Matt Penney has joined Mansfield on loan until the end of the season.

The Wednesday academy product makes his move to the promotion-chasing League Two outfit ahead of their home clash with Barnet on Saturday.

Having risen up through the youth ranks at Hillsborough, Penney signed his maiden Owls professional contract in October 2015.

In January 2018, Penney extended with Wednesday until summer 2019.

The move to Field Mill represents the 19-year-old’s second loan switch away from the club, having gained valuable first team experience in 2016/17 with Bradford.

https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2018/january/penney-moves-to-mansfield/

Since his return to Hillsborough, Penney has been a mainstay in Neil Thompson’s Owls Under-23 squad.

And upon signing his new deal with Wednesday, he told swfc.co.uk earlier this month:

“My biggest aim is to play for Sheffield Wednesday in the first team and with a big push and hard graft, that’s what I hope to achieve.

“First team football is the next big step for me. If that means going out on loan, then I have no problem with that.”

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