Archived News from February 2007
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DEARDEN TARGETS LOAN MIDFIELDER / CONLON RETURNS
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'Big Baz' back but new face search goes on
CHAD website, 14 Feb 2007 BILLY Dearden may step up his attempt to bring in a loan midfielder this week ahead of the games against free-scoring Grimsby Town (Saturday, home, 3pm) and away to promotion-chasing Milton Keynes (Tuesday, 7.45pm). But he will have striker Barry Conlon back available after he shook off his three match ban rust with a reserve outing yesterday afternoon. With three players on the treatment table this week and Giles Coke ruled out for the season, Dearden said: "I do think we now need to add to the squad. "We have three players under treatment and if two or three of them are not ready for Saturday then we are down to 16 or 17 players and that's it. "Now would be a good time to get the most out of a loan player as we have Saturday/Tuesday, then a week and then Saturday/Tuesday again. "If I can't get someone in for the weekend then I would like to think I'll get them early next week. "It is still the same lad I have been chasing for the last few weeks and it is nothing to do with us that he has not come here yet. "It is all at the other end and his club's injuries." Simon Brown (groin) and Martin Gritton (hip) were joined in the physio's room by keeper Jason White who has continued to have nosebleeds after taking a powerful shot full in the face in Saturday's unlucky 1-0 defeat at in-form Stockport County. Gritton and White are expected to be all right for the weekend with Brown the biggest doubt. But Mansfield will welcome back striker Conlon after his three game ban as he looks to continue the sort of form that bagged him three goals in as many games on arriving from Darlington. The big hit man got an hour under his belt in the reserve friendly at Rotherham United's training ground. Sadly the clubs decided to abandon the game on 70 minutes after a nasty injury to 16-year-old Stags defender Joe Storer. "The lad went up for a header and just landed badly," said Dearden. "He was doing well at the time too. "Hopefully it's not too bad. But you don't take any risks with neck injuries and the paramedics were there quickly and then the ambulance - magnificent really. They put a brace on him and took him off to hospital." A young Stags were losing 1-0 at the time and Dearden said: "We wanted a friendly to give a game to players who had not played for a while. "But it backfired on us a bit with the young lad's injury and also Callum Lloyd coming off at half time with a recurrence of his thigh strain. "But they had a strong side out and it was a good work out. "Barry told me he was pleased he'd played when he came off as he needed it. "It was a good blow out for him and he did all right. "Now he is in my thoughts for Saturday and I will monitor him in training on Thursday before deciding if he starts or not against Grimsby." Stags' unbeaten four-game run was halted at Edgeley Park on Saturday but they did deserve something from the game. Now they need to bounce back against a Grimbsy side who lost seven on the trot without scoring before winning two on the bounce, scoring an amazing 10 goals. The first win was an unbelievable 6-0 success at fellow strugglers and neighbours Boston United and manager Dearden said: "To score six away from home, it doesn't matter who it is against, it takes some doing. "But they did let three in at home on Saturday before winning the game and I think we will get chances against them. "So if we defend like we have been doing, apart from that one lapse on Saturday, we should be okay. "Grimsby are scoring goals and winning matches so their confidence will be high. "But so is ours, even though we had a little setback on Saturday. "They must be doing something right to score 10 goals in two games and I am sure it will be a tough game." On Tuesday Stags make their first ever trip to the National Hockey Stadium at Milton Keynes to take on the Dons. -------------- DEARDEN TARGETS LOAN MIDFIELDER Evening Post, 13 February 2007 Billy Dearden will go all out to bring in his midfield target. The Stags boss was frustrated in his bid to sign a new face during the January transfer window. But he believes the time is right to make a fresh approach to sign the player in question on loan. His decision comes after three players - Simon Brown (groin), Martin Gritton (hip) and Jason White (nose) - picked up injuries in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stockport. Callum Lloyd was also absent at Edgeley Park with a thigh injury. Dearden said: "We have three players having treatment and you only need one or two of them not be fit for Saturday and then you are down to your last 16 or 17 players. "I know we need to add a player to the squad because you are going to pick up injuries and we have to have a bit of cover. It is possible I might get it done before the weekend, if not it will have to be early next week. "It is the same lad I have been looking to sign for a few weeks but it depends on his club's injury situation and whether they will let him go." Mansfield are hoping to give Barry Conlon a run out in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Rotherham today. The striker is expected to return to the Stags squad for this weekend's home clash with Grimsby after completing his three-match ban for being sent off at Chester. Martin Gritton missed out on the January League Two player of the month award despite his five goals in as many games. The prize was awarded to Hartlepool defender Michael Nelson. --------------- Conlon to play in reserve game CHAD website, 12 Feb 2007 BARRY Conlon will be hoping to fire his way back into first team contention when he plays in Mansfield Town's scheduled behind-closed-doors reserve friendly at Rotherham United's training ground tomorrow afternoon. After scoring three goals in his first three games, Conlon was red-carded at Chester and has subsequently served a three game ban. But the big striker will be hoping to return to face free-scoring Grimsby Town at Field Mill on Saturday and manager Billy Dearden said: "Barry will play some part in the game tomorrow to get a game in him before the weekend. "We have provisionally agreed this game tomorrow, weather permitting, though either side can cancel at the last minute if there is any concern about injuries." Mansfield certainly have their share with Simon Brown (groin) and Martin Gritton (hip) joined in the physio's room by keeper Jason White who has continued to have nosebleeds after taking a powerful shot full in the face in Saturday's unlucky 1-0 defeat at in-form Stockport County. Gritton and White are expected to be all right for the weekend with Brown the biggest doubt. |
Latest | February 2007