Archived News from February 2022
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CLOUGH:INJURY NEWS / QUINN INTERVIEW
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Mansfield Town expect Stephen McLaughlin return, but doubts remain over Rhys Oates injury
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Tuesday 15th February 2022 Mansfield Town expect left back Stephen McLaughlin to be fit for Saturday's big promotion clash at Newport County. But striker Rhys Oates is a doubt after picking up a thigh strain last weekend. McLaughlin missed the Rovers game following a bang to the head, but Clough said: “He should be fine for Saturday. “He is ready to train this week provided he has no issues or headaches or anything. read more at https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/latest-on-stags-injuries-ahead-of-big-promotion-clash-at-newport-3569978 “We missed the balance he gives us on the left hand side. We missed his link-up play with Stephen Quinn and certainly his delivery and driving into the box. “There was no concussion after the Colchester game but we left him out as a precaution. “He did feel a little bit dizzy after the game, so we kick in our own protocols then and make sure they're all right. We don't take any chances. “He's had no more headaches and he is doing a bit of jogging and rowing and bike work and then scheduled to join back in with us this week.” On Oates he added: “Rhys is a doubt for Saturday - we will see how he is at the weekend. “He's not too bad. He is a very important player for us and if we can get him out there we will. “He puts so much effort into each game - he runs and he sprints after everything. “He is one, ideally, you don't want to play Saturday/Tuesday too often as he will pick up knocks. “George Lapslie is going to start training next week, which is good. He will be doing one to one stuff this week and building up his thigh.” ---------------------- Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags, Tuesday 15th February 2022: On Newport's form, asked if they are falling apart (1 draw to Oldham, 2 defeats to Forest Green & Northampton): "Well it's not falling apart to me! I'd say falling apart is the form that we had earlier in the season!" On the second half at Bristol Rovers: "We flicked about a couple of formations. Jamie Murphy was a yard short. "The players we brought in in January are all at different stages of fitness. "Lucas Akins came in, hadn't started much, mid Decmeber was his previous start before Colchester. "Kieran Wallace has had a knee operation, he's fit but we have to be a little bit careful with him. "Jamie Murphy had not been a regular starter. "Matty Longstaff had not started a game since October for Aberdeen. "So they're all at different stages. "Trying to get them all up to speed during a hectic programme is a balancing act. "Irrespective of the previous result, the biggest lesson, now we've got this strong squad, we're going to change 4 or 5. "I don't think the back 4 is affected as much. Oli Hawkins was immense on Saturday, cleared so many balls out." "When I got the physical stats through on Sunday morning, it confirmed what I already thought, they were down. Our high speed running and sprinting." On Lucas Akins as a full back: "He struggled, by his own admission. Last time he played there was against Forest in a League Cup game for us at Burton, he played against Matty Cash, and he did extremely well. "He found it tougher at Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The idea was to get Kieran Wallace on to give him a breather but we didn't quite manage that. ----------------------- Mansfield Town stay cautious over James Perch return chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Mansfield Town are in no rush to get veteran James Perch back in action. The defender suffered a freak training ground accident that fractured his skull in September and ruled him out for the season. But specialists told him the injury had healed and he made a surprise return last month, coming on as a substitute to huge cheers at home to Leyton Orient and away at Harrogate Town. However, he has been absent from the squad for the last two games and manager Nigel Clough said: “He has just had a couple of knocks and things as you would expect when you've been out for quite a long time. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/perch-out-again-and-stags-in-no-rush-3570523 “But there is no rush in getting him back now. We have Faz Rawson and Keiran Wallace on the bench as two defenders and Lucas Akins can go across to play at right back as well. “We just want to take our time and make sure he's okay. “He is training a little bit. But even if got a routine headache it would be something we'd take a precaution against straight away, even though he might have had a couple of beers the night before if he's got a headache! We're being very cautious.” ----------------- Manager Nigel Clough plans increased player rotation every game as fixture backlog hits Mansfield Town next month chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Manager Nigel Clough plans to rotate four or five players every game once the congested Saturday/Tuesday run of fixtures kicks in for promotion-chasing Mansfield Town. His promotion-chasing side face a hectic couple of months over March and April and he said: “I think in the last couple of game we've probably had the strongest bench we've had all season and it's brilliant. “That was the idea of trimming the squad down this January and going with 18 outfield players. “Of the 18, we don't mind starting any one of them at any time - that's the idea, especially with March and April being as hectic as they are. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/clough-to-change-four-or-five-players-every-game-for-promotion-push-3570719 “It's not so apparent now as we're Saturday to Saturday. “But when we get into March and April and see all those midweeks, that's when we're really going to need them and trying to make four or five changes without affecting the quality will be the key.” Clough added: “It's lovely when you need to change something or bring a sub on and you look around and see the faces that are back there now. “Even when you're writing the team out, it's a great comfort to see the quality of what we've got there. “Many years ago you had a 13/14 man squad and you'd probably get through the season - but you need more than that now as the game is quicker, you have to work harder in games and recovery time is the same as it always has been. “Maybe players aren't quite as robust as they were a few years ago. “We made three changes last weekend, one enforced (Stephen McLaughlin), but were able to bring in the captain Ollie Clarke, and a Premier League midfielder (Matty Longstaff) which is a lovely position to be in.” ----------------------- Mansfield Town fans yet to see the best of January signings chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Mansfield Town fans are yet to see the best of their excellent January window signings as the new players all try to regain full match sharpness as soon as possible. All four new faces were inevitably out of favour at the clubs who have allowed them out and manager Nigel Clough said it was now a case of bringing them up to speed as quickly as possible with a very busy March and April ahead for his promotion-chasers. Lucas Akins, Matty Longstaff, Jamie Murphy and Keiran Wallace have all now had a taste of the action “So trying to get them all in and up to speed while in the middle of a hectic league programme is a balancing act,” said Clough. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/battle-on-to-get-stags-new-faces-all-fully-fit-and-firing-3572427 “It's great when you bring players in in January and everyone is excited. But they are all at different levels and stages of fitness. “Lucas hadn't started many games since mid-December. “Keiran Wallace has had a knee operation. He's fit but we have to be a little bit careful with him. “Jamie Murphy has not been a regular starter and Matty Longstaff hasn't started a proper game since October for Aberdeen.” He added: “Trying to change four of five players each game is the main thing with so many games ahead and such a strong squad. “Our running stats were down and we certainly didn't look anywhere near as sharp as we did against Colchester. “Irrespective of the previous result we now have the quality to change four or five players, though I don't think the back four are affected. Clough was delighted with the debut of Longstaff on Saturday - the last of the four to get a taste of the action. The signing of the Newcastle United youngster on January transfer deadline day raised many eyebrows, clubs surprised to see him drop as low as League Two. But Clough said the level was irrelevant as the youngster needed games and after his display at Bristol, Clough said: “He definitely needs a few games to adjust, but I was very pleased with his physical output over the 90-odd minutes he played. “You can see he's technically a very good player. It's just so different to the Premier League he's been used to and even the SPL in Scotland. “So it will take him a bit of time but it was good to get him on the pitch. “I think he will play an important role for us in the last 16/17 games.” --------------------- Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough targets away win to stay with the promotion pack chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough believes a victory is vital in the next two ultra-tough away games to keep pace with the promotion pack. Stags continue their run of three successive away matches with a huge game at promotion rivals Newport County on Saturday before a trip to managerless Bradford City. “We want a win from one of the next two. That's how you have to look at it,” said Clough after last weekend's game at Bristol Rovers ended 0-0 but Stags extended their unbeaten run to 11. “I think the next two going into the Exeter game at home are very important for us. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stags-need-to-win-one-of-their-two-tough-away-games-says-clough-3572384 “The Exeter game is a huge one as they are right up there and it's one of very few home games we've got. “If we could go into it still unbeaten that would be great, but I think we need to win one of the two if we want to maintain our place.” Promotion rivals Newport were held 3-3 at home by struggling Oldham last week and have suddenly only picked up one point in nine, the Exiles one point and one place behind Stags in the top seven but having played two games more. “I've not been to Newport for a few years,” said Clough. “The pitch is very good I've heard. We won't pay too much attention to what happened against Oldham. I just want to see us physically back on it. “That's what it's like at this time of the season, teams like Scunthorpe and Oldham will start picking points up at the bottom as it's almost like a nothing to lose situation for them. “Since John Sheridan's gone back in Oldham have won two and drawn one. “We had someone at the game who said Oldham had a right go at them. “That's the strength of the league as well. You think it's a home banker but it doesn't work out like that. “Teams are picking up and you've seen some very strange results in the last month or two. “It happens in football, even in the Premier League, at this time of the season. You have these little blips. “What we don't want to do is go on a losing little run. That's why, when we're not at our best, picking up a point at somewhere like Bristol Rovers on Saturday is important. “It wasn't our intention - we went there to win it. But it's certainly better than losing.” He added: “Newport is never an easy place to go. “One of the reasons they've had such a good cup record when people play there is it's an uncomfortable place to go and play football, especially when you're from a higher division as a lot of teams have found in recent seasons. “They've had a change of manager early this season and everything has settled down. “Despite a couple of hiccups in recent games they are certainly one of the best sides in the league.” The Exiles also boast League two top scorer Dom Telford, with 22 goals in all competitions. “How we deal with Dom Telford will be key,” said Clough. “I think he will test our defensive resolve. We've only conceded that one goal in the last four games now from a free kick. He will give us as stern a test as anybody.” Saturday is a second long away trip in a row and Clough said: “With so many hours on the bus it's important we let the lads rest. “But when we do train it's intense. It's important we keep up that level.” --------------------- Competitive squad is a good headache to have - boss mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 15th February 2022 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough admits it’s ‘great’ to have such a high calibre of squad at his disposal. The boss believes he currently has the ‘strongest bench’ he’s had all season. Speaking at a news conference today, the manager discussed his pleasure at having such quality within the group whilst having a suitable number of players available. “I think in the last couple of games we’ve probably had the strongest bench we’ve had all season and it’s great,” he said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/february/competitive-squad-is-a-good-headache-to-have--boss/ “That was the idea when we were trimming the squad down for January. “We’ve got the 18 [first team outfield players] in which we don’t mind starting anyone of them at any time, especially with March and April being as hectic as they are. “It’s lovely when you look round and you have to change something, or you’ve got to bring a sub on, and you see the faces that are back there now.” When asked if it can be difficult to manage expectations from the players, the boss said: “In some ways. “On Saturday we made three changes, one was enforced in Stephen McLaughlin but the other two we left Ryan Stirk and George Maris out and we were able to bring the captain back, Ollie Clarke, and a Premier League midfielder in Matty Longstaff. “That’s a lovely position to be in. “It’s not so apparent now as we’re playing Saturday and then Saturday, but honestly when we get into March with 15 games left in March, April and the first week in May, that’s when we’re really going to need them [substitutes].” The manager’s men travel to Rodney Parade this weekend to face seventh placed Newport County. “It’s an uncomfortable place to go and play football,” he said. “Despite a couple of hiccups in recent games, they are certainly one of the best sides in this league. “It’ll test our defensive resolve; we’ve only conceded once in the last four games.” The manager felt his side needed to take advantage of their dominance in periods of the 0-0 draw away at Bristol Rovers on Saturday. He said: “We said to the players before Bristol Rovers on Saturday: ‘let’s try and replicate as much as we can the way we play at home’. “That’s why I was disappointed because we had the control, but we didn’t make it count in the first-half. “If we’d had a home game with the way the first-half went then we’d have got a goal or two.” The gaffer provided an update on the fitness of full-back Stephen McLaughlin who missed the trip to Bristol Rovers. “He [McLaughlin] should be fine. He’s ready to train this week providing he has no issues or headaches or anything this week, he’ll be available for Saturday. “We missed him [against Bristol Rovers] we missed the balance he gives us on that left-hand side. “We missed the link-up play with Stephen Quinn and certainly his delivery and his driving into the box.” The boss also delivered news on the fitness of some of his other squad members ahead of the clash with Newport. “We’re hoping to have pretty much everybody [fit]. George Lapslie is going to begin training next week which is good. “He’ll be doing one to one stuff this week and building up his thigh. “Kellan Gordon is obviously still out. “Rhys Oates is a doubt for Saturday. We will see how he is nearer the weekend. “If not, we hope to have everybody else available.” Watch the manager’s interview now by clicking here. ------------------------- Mansfield Town veteran star Stephen Quinn desperate to savour promotion taste once more chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Tuesday 15th February 2022 Despite winning promotion to the Premier League and twice enjoying successful spells in the top flight, former Irish international star Stephen Quinn insists a promotion with Mansfield Town this season would mean at least as much to him if not more. At 35, now in the twilight of his glittering career, Quinn is as hungry as ever to succeed and would love another promotion this May. “It's all as relevant as those times, there is still the same pressures in getting promotion,” he said. “It's still the same end goal. This would be an awesome feat if we could do it this year. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stags-promotion-would-mean-as-much-to-quinn-as-past-glories-3571767 “Those were great times but for me this would be just as, if not even more, important. “I thought I was finishing the game a few years ago due to injury. “But, bouncing back, and to come to play for a club like Mansfield, who are forward-thinking and building something quite unique, to be involved in it and play with some of the players and the quality we have in the squad is exciting for me. “It is different, but it's as special as playing for Ireland or the bigger clubs or going for promotion to the Premier League or FA Cup finals. “This is relevant to the Mansfield Town fans and everyone in the club. It's the same level for me and I'm just very excited to be a part of it.” Stags have gone on an amazing run of success, but that came after a 14-game stretch without victory which he believes has spurred them on to the greater heights they have hit. “It was a bit different at the start of the season when we had the bad patch,” he said. “But we came through that and to see the camaraderie and mental strength of some of these boys in this changing room - the additions have helped - it's been quite a turnaround. “You can definitely see comparisons with some of the successful squads I've played in. “It's the togetherness and never-say-die attitude, but also the quality more than anything. There is some great quality in this squad. “We're looking strong and it's getting stronger, and I think we will look back to that bad run as a spur and also a warning that things can go wrong and not to take anything for granted going forward. “We don't want that to happen again. It's important it happened in the early part of the season so we can look at it and get ahead of ourselves. “We have turned it round unbelievably well and this is where we wanted to be at the start of the season. “From now on we just have to finish the job. “There are lots of games coming up and this is where the buzz starts as you know it's getting closer. We will get more out of ourselves knowing there is a goal right at the end of it.” One of nine Dublin brothers Quinn started out in the youth set-up at League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic. “I had some good times at Pats,” he said. “I was obviously only a young lad learning my trade. “But I will be forever grateful to them as they are my local League of Ireland team and I supported them growing up. “I played the one game for St Pats, the manager was Eamonn Collins. “Not very long after I had some trials at Sheffield United and they signed me up.” It was there he earned a nickname. “My brother, Alan, also joined that summer and when I started breaking into the same first team I was named 'Mini Quinny' from the off,” he smiled. He made over 200 league appearances for the Blades and had early loan spells at Rotherham United - a relegation fight - and MK Dons while the Blades were getting promotion to the Premier League. By the time he returned to Bramall Lane he was a top flight player. “It was great for me at Rotherham,” he said. “I needed to go out and play league football down the lower leagues. “It was a big eye-opener for me as Rotherham at the time were not doing so well financially and some of their players weren't being paid. “It was a difficult time for the club and Neil Warnock let a couple of us go out on loan to help the cause. “In the end we stayed up in League One. Alan Knill was the manager at the time and it was a really good three months for the club staying up and for myself to start my professional career.” In 2012 Quinn was sold to Championship Hull City, helping them to promotion and an FA Cup final too - a spell that also saw him progress from the Irish U21s to the full national team. “My best moment for Ireland was my debut,” he said. “It's just pulling on that green jersey. It was the one thing I'd always ever dreamed of, playing for my country, and that was the pinnacle of my career. “It was a special moment for myself and my family.” A spell at Reading followed before he joined Nigel Clough at Burton Albion and then linked up with him again at Mansfield. “The first time I worked with him was at Burton Albion and we had a successful period there,” he said. “This club is ready for the steps above and the manager has been brilliant. He just simplifies the game and wants to play my type of football. “I know all the lads are really enjoying it as well. He is a great man-manager and it's been great to be working alongside him again.” Quinn had high praise for the Stags fans playing their part in lifting the team. “The fans are absolutely outstanding at the minute to be honest,” he said. “In October time when we were as low as a snake's belly really, we just couldn't get a result even though we were playing quite well. But we stuck at it to see if we could get fans' bums onto seats and literally a few months later we hit a groove. “We've come together as a squad and there is a great unity between the fans and the players and it's special at the moment, home and away. The atmosphere they are generating is something quite special.” After a summer of high optimism, Quinn said no one expected the 14-game winless run. “Going into the start of the season and even into the first couple of games we were strong and looking good,” he said. “The unity around the place has never been broken. But it was just we couldn't find a way of winning games and keeping the same people on the pitch and keeping players fit. “Obviously my discipline let us down also in that period also (he was suspended for six games). “There is an element of doubt in the back of your mind when that sort of thing happens, but your character then shines through and you dig deep. “That's exactly what we did. We kept pressing forward and believed and that's the most important thing. “Looking forward we've got to realise that those things can happen so we have to stay on our toes and try to make sure that doesn't happen again.” Saturday's opponents and promotion rivals Newport County have had a mini blip with only one point from the last nine. “We recognise the period they are going through as we've been there ourselves. So we have to be fully on our guard and fully focussed,” said Quinn. “We went to Harrogate and they were in a similar situation. They went back to basics and were tough to beat. “It's the business end of the season now and every game we go into is going to be difficult as teams are playing for different things at the moment. “It was a good point in the end last weekend at Bristol Rovers as these are difficult places to go to. Obviously we weren't at our best but on another day we could have lost the game. “It will be a different kind of game on Saturday but we'll stick to what we've been doing. We look to attack every team we play as we want to win.” Despite his advancing years, Quinn feels as fit as a fiddle. “I feel great, honestly,” he said. “It's been great to be a part of this side. “I know a lot of the young lads in the team and they are keeping me young. The spirit is up and it's great to be around. “They me feel young again. I feel physically very well and I just want to push for one thing now this season and that's promotion.” Quinn likes to provide some Irish 'craic' when he can, but knows when to be deadly serious. “The camaraderie between the lads has been great and there is an earthiness about the lads,” he said. “There are no egos around the place which I love. “I love to have a bit of craic and a laugh at the right times, but I don't take my eye off the end goal. When the serious business starts it's heads down. “You do need to have a bit of craic about the place and that's what I like to do. But you have to be ready to go and turn up when the whistle blows on a Saturday or Tuesday. “We are more than ready. We have the squad now available so let's see what it brings. “We know our goal and our aim and we're not going to stop until we get it.” ----------------------- |
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