'2-3 weeks away': Nigel Clough delivers Mansfield Town injury latest ahead of Luton Town
Two new injury cases have emerged at Mansfield Town ahead of their League One clash against Luton Town this weekend.
Stags have had far from the best luck with their squad fitness since the season started and could now be without two further key players for Sunday.
Frazer Blake-Tracy and Liam Thompson are doubts for Luton, having both come off against Peterborough United. Blake-Tracy ‘rolled his ankle’ and required treatment, while Thompson came off late in the second half.
“He took a whack in the first half actually and then a couple more so we will assess him and see how he is,” Clough said after the Posh defeat last Saturday.
During his midweek press conference, the Stags boss admitted both players had not been training and were doubts for this weekend. The club has since stated both Blake-Tracy and Thompson are ‘unlikely’ to feature against Luton.
David McGoldrick and Tyler Roberts remain side-lined and are yet to take part in Mansfield’s League One campaign. Clough has said the duo are ‘closer’ to returning but they are not set to be back for the Hatters clash.
Baily Cargill and Luke Bolton are also still unavailable, with the latter only just starting his pre-season schedule.
Clough said Jon Russell has been ‘carrying a hip injury for the past week or two’ and has missed some training but the midfielder has not been named as an absentee or doubt for Sunday.
“It’s precautionary. I don’t think he’s moving as well as he was earlier in pre-season but hopefully that will ease in the coming weeks,” the manager said midweek.
Jordan Bowery is also yet to feature in amber and blue this season but an official update on his situation is yet to be confirmed.
With these senior injuries, Stags are without some important figures during this early stage of the season but Clough has assured they are ‘short-term’ problems. He also addressed Mansfield Town’s approach to these final days of the summer transfer window.
“Everybody is short-term. Everybody is 2-3 weeks away at the worst after the international break. There’s a possibility of one coming in and we’ve had a couple of enquiries, so maybe one going out on loan, but I’m not sure we can afford to let anybody out at the moment. But as you know, we are pretty full on numbers, so it’s going to be a balancing act.”