Archived News from February 2023
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CLOUGH ON INJURIES, + MARIS INTERVIEW
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Clough told iFollow Stags, Tues 21 Feb 2023:
“Callum Johnson is coming on well, he’s about the only one that is progressing well and might train later on in the week. I would think he’ll be 50/50 for Saturday. “Will Swan, we’ve not had good news on him really. He’s had a scan and he’s done some ligament damage in his ankle in training last week. Not sure on the timeframe, will be a few weeks we think. It will be how it settles down and he'll have to go and see somebody just to get it ok'ed and checked one last time that there's no further damage. (Clough told Radio Nottingham: "He'll probably go and see a specialist to get another opinion on it, and we'll know a bit more from there") “George Maris couldn’t do the warm-up at Tranmere which is why he was dropped off the bench. We’ll just see how he is day-to-day. “Stephen McLaughlin had an injection in his ankle, and it settled it down. We’re hoping he’ll be doing a little bit of work outside later this week if not next week. Still no real timeframe on him. “Louis Reed, he’s coming on ok but will be a few weeks before he’s fit. “Rhys Oates is coming on well with his shoulder but not imminently close to returning. “James Gale has these shin splints and tries to come back and then has a setback so we’re not sure how long he’ll be. “John-Joe O’Toole has got his foot in a boot and is going to be in it for four weeks and then for another four weeks after that probably, or more. “Anthony Hartigan with his shoulder, no real update on him. He’s coming on well but is several weeks away.” -------------------------- Dazzling form despite injuries emphasises squad strength - gaffer mansfieldtown.net, Tues 21 Feb 2023 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says his side’s impressive recent form of three wins in a week, without conceding a goal, ‘emphasises the strength of our squad more than anything’ as Stags prepare for battle at home to promotion rivals Salford City this Saturday. As many as nine first team players are currently sidelined but the gaffer feels the current run of six matches unbeaten showcases the quality of those performing at present. Stags sit fifth in Sky Bet League Two - level on points with fourth place Northampton Town and just three points off Carlisle United in the automatic promotion positions - having played a game less. Speaking to iFollow Stags in a news conference at RH Academy this afternoon, Nigel said: “I couldn’t ask for anymore, especially with the injuries we’ve had over that period as well. “To get the three wins, nine points, and three clean sheets - it’s been an incredible week really. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/february2/dazzling-form-despite-injuries-emphasises-squad-strength--gaffer/ “It just goes to emphasise the strength of the squad more than anything and also the team spirit within the squad has shone through. “I think the strength of your squad isn’t shown up when everybody is fully fit, it’s when we’ve got a lot of players missing as we’ve had.” Mansfield haven’t conceded a goal in the previous three matches and the boss lauded a collective attitude of desire from his players to protect Stags’ goal. “There’s a [strong] mentality amongst the squad which is nice to see,” he said. “There’s a determination to keep the ball out the net and that’s going to be a priority in the next 15 games. “When you get one clean sheet, as we did against Gillingham, you think ‘come on - let’s build on it’. “We got the one [clean sheet] at Carlisle and then it becomes almost a pride thing. “Three games now without conceding, let’s keep it going. “As much as everybody works for the clean sheet, and Lucas Akins up top does more than most in ensuring that, it’s still a defensive unit and a goalkeeper where they really have to be together.” In strong form, the squad has had to overcome injury difficulties to ensure the club’s unbeaten run continues. “Stephen McLaughlin had an injection in his ankle, and it settled it down. We’re hoping he’ll be doing a little bit of work outside later this week if not next week. Still no real timeframe on him. “John-Joe O’Toole has got his foot in a boot and is going to be in it for four weeks and then for another four weeks after that probably, or more. “Callum Johnson is coming on well, he’s about the only one that is progressing well and might train later on in the week. I would think he’ll be 50/50 for Saturday. “George Maris couldn’t do the warm-up at Tranmere which is why he was dropped off the bench. We’ll just see how he is day-to-day. “Louis Reed, he’s coming on ok but will be a few weeks before he’s fit. “Rhys Oates is coming on well with his shoulder but not imminently close to returning. “Will Swan, we’ve not had good news on him really. He’s had a scan and he’s done some ligament damage in his ankle in training last week. Not sure on the timeframe, will be a few weeks we think. It will be how it settles down and he'll have to go and see somebody just to get it ok'ed and checked one last time that there's no further damage. (Clough told Radio Nottingham: "He'll probably go and see a specialist to get another opinion on it, and we'll know a bit more from there") “James Gale has these shin splints and tries to come back and then has a setback so we’re not sure how long he’ll be. “Anthony Hartigan with his shoulder, no real update on him. He’s coming on well but is several weeks away.” On this weekend’s opponents, Nigel said: “[Salford are] As good on their day as anybody. “We saw that early season. I thought we played well in pre-season but [on the opening day at Salford] we didn’t keep a clean sheet and we conceded two soft goals. “It was as good an example as any as we’ve had even on the first day of why we’re not further up the league. “Going forward we created lots of chances but didn’t take any. The highlight [lasting memory from the afternoon] was giving away those two soft goals. “We can’t afford to do that on Saturday or in the next 15 games.” ---------------------------- Nigel Clough: Mansfield Town at their best despite injury crisis, says boss https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64721837 Boss Nigel Clough says Mansfield Town's injury crisis has brought the best out his League Two promotion-chasing side. Eight players were ruled out of their victory at Tranmere, which extended Mansfield's winning run to three games and moved them to within three points of the automatic promotion spots. Joining the injury list last week were John-Joe O'Toole and Will Swan. "We are probably in the best place we have been in in terms of confidence, despite the injuries," Clough said. "And the way the results have gone the last few weeks, there is a nice sort of determination and resolve among the squad at the moment." Clough said the Stags will "give it everything we have got" over the remaining 15 games of the campaign to get into the top three. It is the second push for promotion Mansfield have made in as many seasons under Clough, with the Stags beaten by Port Vale in the play-off final at Wembley last season after finishing seventh in the table. After a woeful 14-match winless start to the 2021-22 season, a club record 11 consecutive home league wins between 30 October and 2 April catapulted Mansfield into promotion contention. And the Mansfield boss says the injury woes now faced by the club - which could see O'Toole miss the next eight weeks, while Louis Reed, Rhys Oates and Stephen McLaughlin all remain out as well - has generated the same fighting spirit his side called on last term. "That showed up last season when we went on that horrific run and then the way we came out of it and what went on from there, taking us all the way to Wembley," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham. "That was about character as much as anything. "It has been the same a little this season, and especially now when we have eight or nine missing." Mansfield next face Salford City, a side just three points and one spot behind them in the table. ------------------------- Bad news on Will Swan as Mansfield Town await roll call on injuries ahead of big all-ticket Salford Town clash chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 21 Feb 2023 Mansfield Town will have a roll call of their walking wounded before Saturday's big all-ticket home clash with promotion rivals Salford City after bad news on striker Will Swan. But boss Nigel Clough admitted of the nine injured players, only two had a 50-50 chance of playing with Swan and John-Joe O’Toole the latest pair in the treatment room.“It wasn't good news on Will Swan,” he said. “It's a bit more serious than we first thought. “He had a scan and has some ligament damage in his ankle from training last week. We think he will be a few weeks. It will be how it settles down and he will have to go and get it checked by a specialist. “It was pure misfortune. He was running back and just ended up stepping on Hiram. We thought they were injured at first but Will came off the worst. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/bad-news-on-will-swan-as-mansfield-town-await-roll-call-on-injuries-ahead-of-big-all-ticket-salford-town-clash-4037501 “JJ has his foot in a boot for four weeks, then will be another four weeks after that or more. By the time you're up to speed again the season is very nearly over, and that's best case scenario for him.” On the other missing players only Callum Johnson and George Maris have any chance of playing on Saturday. “Callum Johnson is about the only one who is progressing well and might train later in the week. He is 50-50 for Saturday,” said Clough. “George Maris had to be dropped off the bench at Tranmere when he couldn't do the warm up. We are just seeing how he is day to day. “Stephen McLaughlin has had an injection in his ankle which has settled it down. We are hoping he will able to do a bit of work outside later this week or next week, but there is still no real time frame on him. “Louis Reed is coming on okay but will be a few weeks as his Rhys Oates with his shoulder, but he is not close to returning. “James Gale has shin splints and tries to come back and has a setback, so we're not sure how long he will be. “And Anthony Hartigan is coming well with his shoulder but is several weeks away.” Meanwhile two younger Stags players - goalkeeper Owen Mason and striker Jimmy Knowles - have gone out on loan to National League North Kettering Town where Clough's former Forest team mate and ex-Stags assistant boss Lee Glover is in charge. “They have both gone out to get some football,” said Clough. “We had just done Jimmy before Will Swan got injured - about two hours before. There was no way to undo it.” On Saturday Stags will aim to build on the current run of three successive wins and three straight clean sheets, but knows how dangerous Salford can be. Stags lost 2-0 there on the opening day of the campaign and Clough said: “They are as good on their day as anyone - we saw that early season. “We played pretty well but we didn't keep a clean sheet. “That is as good an example of any this season, and that was on the first day, of why we're not further up the league. “Going forward, we created lots of chances but didn't take any, then we gave away two soft goals. “We can't afford to do that on Saturday or in the next 15 games. Keeping clean sheets is going to be the foundation. We must be hard to beat. “Our team has changed quite a bit since then in terms of personnel. And we are probably in the best place we've been with confidence, despite our injuries. “The way results have gone recently gives us a determination and resolve among the squad to give it everything we've got in the last 15 games.” Stags fans are reminded that the club have made Saturday’s game all-ticket. In order to maximise the capacity of One Call Stadium, the decision to transfer to all-ticket means that tickets cannot be purchased on the day of the abovementioned fixtures but allows approximately 700 additional tickets to be made available for home supporters.Supporters will be able to collect their tickets on the day of the game, however, purchases need to be completed in person at the ticket office or via telephone (01623 482 482, option 1) by 5pm on Friday 24 February.Supporters should note that the ticket office will close at 2.50pm this Saturday to enable staff to pay their respects to former Stags’ defender Kevin Bird prior to kick-off. Tickets are available to purchase online via http://www.stagstickets.co.uk until midnight on Friday. The decision to transfer to all-ticket applies to home supporters only.Supporters are reminded that One Call Stadium operates an allocated seating policy.Supporters therefore must be seated in accordance to the seat issued on their purchased match ticket. --------------------- Season to forget so far for Mansfield Town defensive heroes from last season chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 21 Feb 2023 After a season of high success last term, Mansfield Town defenders John-Joe O'Toole and Stephen McLaughlin have had a tough campaign so far. Both have struggled for form and fitness all the way through - and both are now sidelined with injury too. But boss Nigel Clough said: “It sometimes happens like that. It's part of what you have to deal with as a footballer. “Both were absolute rocks for us last year. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/season-to-forget-so-far-for-mansfield-town-defensive-heroes-from-last-season-4037527 “But for different reasons, illness, injuries, niggles, form, whatever, they have not produced it this season. “That happens in football. You can have a great season, can't wait to come back and then can't quite reproduce it for different reasons. But injuries have certainly played a part in both. “Stephen McLaughlin won all the awards last season and was magnificent but hasn't quite produced it this time, though in the last few weeks has looked as if he was coming back to it before he got this ankle injury again.” Clough added: “When you come back you have to strip it back down to basics. You have to accept you won't come initially as good a you were. So you make sure you do the basic things well and go forward from there. “You need to build up confidence, strength, form, fitness, everything.” O’Toole’s injury looks likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. -------------------- Manager Nigel Clough hails his injury-hit Mansfield Town heroes after best week of the season chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 21 Feb 2023 Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough hailed his injury-hit side's heroics last week as the best week of Stags' season yielded nine points out of nine and three clean sheets. With nine players sidelined, those three wins against the odds have pushed them to within three points of the top three automatic promotion places ahead of Saturday's visit of Salford City and Clough said: “This past week has been as good as we've had. “I couldn't ask for any more, especially with the injuries we have had over that period as well. “It was a wonderful week and deserved as well. We've felt it's been coming but didn't quite see it being that good. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/manager-nigel-clough-hails-his-injury-hit-mansfield-town-heroes-after-best-week-of-the-season-4037478 “To get three wins, nine points and three clean sheets has been incredible really and just goes to emphasise the strength of the squad. “Also, the team spirit in that squad has shone through. That's been the absolute key - the quality of the players that have been coming in. “The strength in your squad is not shown up when everyone is fully fit, it's when you have a lot of players missing, as we have. “At the end of the season some of these players may say they've only played 10,15, 20 games or whatever, but all those games are absolutely vital. “When you're down to the bones, we had three Academy players on the bench on Saturday and not too many due to come back, they have to keep performing.” Clough said it was vital to keep squad players, who were out of the side, ready to hit the ground running when called upon. “It is a dual challenge for players,” he said. “For the physical one, keeping them up to speed, we try to organise friendlies now and again. “Mentally it is just keeping them involved, and that is part of the other players' duties as well to make sure the squad feels as one.” He added: “There were a couple didn't get on on Saturday - Danny Johnson and Jason Law. But they will be ready if we need them. “Danny has been a bit unfortunate in that we haven't needed a goal. “We needed one at Bradford after 45 minutes so we put him on. If there is one thing you bring Danny on for it's that you need a goal - but we've not needed one since. “We do have great characters here. That showed last season when we went on that horrific run without a win and then the way we came out of it and what went on from there, taking us to Wembley. That was about character as much as anything. “It is the same now when we have got eight or nine players missing that the rest of the lads are good enough ability-wise and character-wise to stand in.” With Stags joint top League Two scorers, Clough believes it is the defensive improvements that are seeing their points tally quickly increase. “On Saturday Micky Mellon (Tranmere boss) said we looked solid throughout and what has been apparent in all three games is that the opposition has had to work hard to get a chance against,” said Clough. “That is what we have to be like for this last 15 games. “Our defensive side of things has been the reason why we've not got more points. “We are up there with the top goalscorers in the league - creating chances has never been a problem. “But we seem to be defending better at the moment. There seems to be a mentality and determination among the squad at the moment to keep the ball out the net, which is nice to see. “When you get one clean sheet, as we did against Gillingham, you think let's build on it. Then we got one at Carlisle and it becomes almost a sort of pride thing. Let's keep it going. “As much everybody works for the clean sheet - and Lucas Akins up top does it more then most - it is still the defensive unit and goalkeeper that have to really be together and say we're “not conceding today - it's our job. “I think we can improve when everyone is fit. But the current results just highlight the importance of certain players within our squad like Keiran Wallace stepping in doing the job he's done in the last week and Jordan Bowery filling in at left wing back and doing brilliantly.” ------------------------ Midfielder lauds new signings mansfieldtown.net, Tues 21 Feb 2023 Mansfield Town midfielder George Maris says Stags’ four new signings in January gave the squad ‘a new lease of life’. The 26-year-old, who joined the Stags in the summer of 2020, has been an important part of Nigel Clough’s squad so far this term. The creative midfielder has appeared on 35 occasions so far this season including Stags’ most recent home win against Gillingham and has found the back of the net five times so far during this campaign. Speaking to iFollow Stags in a news conference this afternoon on Mansfield’s newest recruits, Maris said: “They’re good lads. They’ve fitted in straight away and they’re good players more importantly. “Alfie [Kilgour has] come in and looked solid. I’ve played against Davo [Davis Keillor-Dunn] for a few years and he’s always been a good player so to get him in was a great one. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/february2/midfielder-lauds-new-signings/ “Callum [Johnson] is injured at the moment but he started off flying. “It was like a new lease of life for us when they came in. We were having a bit of an up and down period but since they’ve come in the results have started to pick up and there’s no surprise we’re right up there in the league again. “We’ve got a lot of bodies to come back, a couple may be [back] sooner and there will be more long term.” The former Cambridge United man has missed the last two victories on the road due to injury. Providing an injury update, he said: “[My Achilles is] not bad. It’s better this week [as] I’ve had some treatment [on it]. It was too sore for Saturday so we’ll see if we can get it going this week. “I’d say it's pretty 50/50 at the moment [in terms of my chances to be involved against Salford on Saturday]. It’s just the pushing off side of things and it’s not worth risking it if I can’t push off so that’s why I had to pull out of the warm-up on Saturday. Hopefully I’ll be out there on Saturday at some point.” Mansfield have secured a maximum of nine points from their last three games within seven days and Maris said: “I think defensively we’ve just got it right. We looked secure at the back [as well as] scoring eight in a week. “We’ve added Davo [Davis Keillor-Dunn], who’s really added to things up front. Him and Lucas [Akins] look like they’ll be a good partnership so it’s a good way to start the thing [partnership] they’ve got going.” ---------------------- January quartet of signings the catalyst for surge up the table says Mansfield Town midfielder George Maris chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 21 Feb 2023 Midfielder George Maris believes the club's four January signings have been the catalyst for Mansfield Town's surge up the table. David Keillor-Dunn, Callum Johnson, Alfie Kilgour and Louis Reed have joined Stags ' promotion push and Maris said: “They have been massive to current form. It was like a new lease of life for us when they came in. “We were having a bit of an up and down time but now we can really push up there and see if we can hold a position in the automatics or, worst case, the play-offs. “Momentum is crucial. Last year you saw on that run we just kept winning. If we could put another run like that together now it could really put us up there at the end of the season. “Last season it took us to the players but this season it could put us up in the automatic spots if we can keep it going.” He has been particularly impressed how Keillor-Dun has linked up with Lucas Akins. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/january-quartet-of-signings-the-catalyst-for-surge-up-the-table-says-mansfield-town-midfielder-george-maris-4037549 “Davo has really added up front and him and Lucas look like they are a great partnership,” he said. “It's been a good way of starting the little thing they have got going and they are both scoring at the minute. “Davo has changed the way we play up front. I think we are a better team now with him floating around in that No.10 role. He is picking up goals and assists. “I have played against Davo for a few years and he has always been a good player, so to sign him was a great one. “Alfie has come in and made the back three look solid. “Callum started off flying too though is injured at the moment. Reeds was also brilliant in the two games he played before he got injured. “They are all good lads and fitted in straight away. More importantly they're good players and it already feels like they have been here forever. “Since they have come in results have started to pick up - and it's no surprise we're right up there in the league again. “When we get a few more back from injury there will be even more competition for places and we will be ever stronger. The more bodies we have the better. “If there was ever a time to put a run together it's now.” Maris said Stags now need to build on a fantastic run of three wins in a week. “It has been the week of the season by far and the lads have been brilliant,” he said. “We have picked up nine points from three difficult games and it has put us right back in the mixer. “We are down to bare bones with injuries but those 11 lads have gone out there three time this week and won every game and not conceded. Fair play to them, they've been brilliant. “The quality is undoubtedly there, but there is also a lot of heart in that dressing room too. “Defensively we have got it right. We look secure at the back and we have scored eight in a week.” Saturday's visitors are promotion rivals Salford City, who beat Stags 2-0 in the first day of the season. “Salford are always difficult. Sometimes they like the long ball and have got the big man up top and like to play off him. But they can play a bit too,” said Maris. “They are hard to beat and hard to break down. But put in any sort of performance like we did last week and I think we'll win the game. “It was a tough start at Salford and probably one of our worst performances of the season on the opening day. We will look put that right. “We are in a much better place to now and hopefully we can take three points off a play-off rival.” Maris is now doing all he can to be involved in the game as he tries to shake off an Achilles tendon problem. “It is better this week, I have had some treatment,” he said. “It did settle down last week and the gaffer asked me to try it in the warm-up at Tranmere, but I had to pull out, which was unfortunate. It was just too sore. “So we will see how quick we can get it going this week. “I would say I was 50-50 for this Saturday. It is just the pushing-off side of things and it's not worth risking if I can't push off. “But a week of physio and hopefully I will be out there Saturday at some point. I will keep the load off it and hope to train on Friday.” ------------------ |
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