Archived News from September 2004
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ASAMOAH CAN`T WAIT TO GET STUCK IN
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CAN'T WAIT TO GET STUCK IN
Evening Post, 04 September 2004 Derek Asamoah has been looking forward to tomorrow's game ever since the League Two fixtures were released. The ex-Northampton striker, who faces his former club for the first time since his summer switch from Sixfields, said: "I've been counting down the days to the game this week. I'm definitely hoping to get on the score sheet. "I hope the Northampton fans understand my reasons for leaving and I hope I get a good response from them. But you never know in football." Asamoah says he felt it was the right time for him to move after three years at Sixfields - and is enjoying himself at Field Mill. "It's been a great feeling to be able to express ourselves and get a couple of big wins under our belts - and I hope there are some more wins like that to come," he said. "I want to do the best I can for Mansfield and I will give 110% every game. "But I've got no targets, I'm just going to take each game as it comes. "I want to be recognised as a great player and Keith Curle has given me a chance to achieve my ambitions. I think I've fitted in well here and taken my career to a new level." Stags can boast a fully-fit squad, with Lee Williamson and Adam Eaton available for selection again. Williamson missed Monday's game against Yeovil after hobbling off at Grimsby with an ankle injury last Saturday and Eaton has recovered after suffering a groin injury at Oxford. Centre-back Luke Dimech is in Malta's 18-man squad for their 2006 World Cup Group Eight opener against Sweden at Malta's National Stadium in Ta' Qali. There will be few surprises if Keith Curle opts for an unchanged line-up, after Monday's impressive 4-1 victory against Yeovil. That would mean another start for Rhys Day. Tomorrow's game was switched at Northampton's request. The Cobblers wanted their fans to be able to watch tonight's England World Cup qualifier against Austria. Northampton initially asked if Mansfield would switch to an early kick-off today, before the two sides agreed to put the fixture back 24 hours. "We can't wait to play Northampton," said Curle. "We want to put on another entertaining match and play attacking, attractive football, with the crowd behind us." Northampton will be looking for revenge after Mansfield beat them on penalties in the play-off semi-finals last season. Northampton will be without last season's top scorer Martin Smith, who is missing with a thigh strain, and central midfielder David Rowson, who is out for a month with a knee injury. Defenders David Galbraith and Tommy Jaszczun are ruled out with calf strains. The Cobblers could start with 20-year-old Mark Hughes, currently on loan from Tottenham, and new signing Steve Haslam as their central midfield partners in a 3-4-3 formation. Stags: Pilkington, McNiven, Buxton, Day, Artell, John-Baptiste, MacKenzie, Neil, Corden, Larkin, Asamoah, O'Neill, Tate, Murray, Curtis, White, Williamson, Eaton. Northampton: Harper, Chambers, Willmott, Westood, Low, Murray, Haslam, Hughes, Richards, Sabin, McGleish, Youngs, Bunn, Morison, Hicks, Cozic, Bojic, Reeves, Carruthers, Amoo. Mansfield Town Ladies visit Welbeck tomorrow for their opening Division One North fixture (3pm). Stags ladies recorded a 7-0 win against Derby County's reserves in the club's final pre season friendly. Stacey Caunt (4), Kelly Brown (2) and Lorraine Mason were on target. |
Latest | September 2004