Abbott and Roberts doubts as Mansfield Town prepare for start of hectic six-game month

But, with new faces in the squad in the January window, and players coming back from the club's lengthy injury list, boss Nigel Clough believes they can recapture their best form after being forced to battle hard for three draws in a row to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games.

“It is a tough month with the FA Cup game in there as well,” said Clough.

“We have had an unbelievably good run, going eight games unbeaten.

“But we are very much aware that we have to play better than we have done in the last few games.

“The heights we hit second half at Sheffield United, the second half against Port Vale and against Bradford at the start of January, we have not reached in the last three games.

“The three draws have all been battling draws where we have not kept the ball well enough or created enough.

“Stevenage was an exception as we should have won it apart from the referee's mistakes in the last few minutes.

“But I think we will improve as we start getting the players back and up to speed.”

Exeter are one point and two places below Mansfield in 13th place and Clough said: “Exeter were down there like ourselves a month or so ago, but have had a brilliant run.

“Their result last Saturday seemed to be a bit of a freak one off, losing 4-0 at home.

“They just copped for Rotherham at the wrong time, who scored four very good goals – a couple on the break.

“They suffered a heavy FA Cup defeat at Manchester City, but it's how you recover from that. And I think generally they recovered extremely well and won their next couple of games.

“So it's a tough test, as they all are.

“The equality in this league is there for everyone to see.

“We have gone eight games unbeaten but we are only seven points above the bottom four and not too far off the play-offs as well, so it will be very tight and nip and tuck between now and the end of the season.

“By the end of this month we will know a little bit more about where our ambitions really lie.

“As we get players fit we will be trying to look up rather than looking down.”

George Maris, Jordan Bowery and Lucas Akins remain on the treatment table, but Kyle Knoyle, Stephen McLaughlin, Victory Adeboyejo and Luke Bolton all topped up their fitness levels in Tuesday's reserve game at Derby while Louis Reed also played after completing his two match suspension.

Midfielder Tyler Roberts is back in training but unlikely to figure.

“We will see how Tyler goes this week,” said Clough.

“We are aware he has been out for three months.

“He trained on Friday and wanted to be in the squad on Saturday against Wycombe.

“But I think after 20 minutes trainig that would have been too much of a risk.

“We were going to play him in the reserve game at Derby but decided he needs to do more training first, so he will get a couple of good days at it this week and then we will see how he looks.

“I think we have missed the quality he showed in the first half of the season, especially like last weekend when we have struggled to create. So it will be good to have him back as an option as well.

“But he has some good competition in there now.”

New signing, Spurs midfielder George Abbott, may also have to wait for a debut.

“George has had a slight calf injury so we're not sure if he will be available for the weekend.,” said the manager.

“He needs to do a bit of training this week and we will review it before the weeknd and Tuesday, but he should certainly be all right for the FA Cup the weekend after.”