Battle on to be Mansfield Town captain

The battle is on to be Mansfield Town skipper for new manager Steve Evans.
Mansfield Town v Crawley Town.
Chris Clements celebrates after netting his second goal in the second half.Mansfield Town v Crawley Town.
Chris Clements celebrates after netting his second goal in the second half.
Mansfield Town v Crawley Town. Chris Clements celebrates after netting his second goal in the second half.

Current club captain Lee Collins missed Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Crawley with injury, and, in his absence, midfield ace Chris Clements made it two wins out of two wearing the armband as his two goals and man of the match display saw off Crawley.

However, fellow midfielder Jamie McGuire was also inspirational and vocal.

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On Clements, Evans said: “I thought the young man was outstanding from start to finish.

“His energy levels were fantastic, though spoke to him to say in the last 10 minutes he could have helped us control the game a little bit better, and I think he accepted that.

“Lee Collins is currently the club captain and in the next three to four weeks I will have a good look how that works when Lee is back in the team.

“I have seen what young Clemo gives us and we will have a look at that and as we go forward four or five weeks from now we’ll pick Steve Evans’ captain.”

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On McGuire, he added: “I though Jamie was excellent on Saturday.

“I thought in the heat of the battle on Saturday we needed a big Jamie McGuire performance.

“I hated the wee fellow when he played against my teams because he kicked everybody that moved.

“I just said to him give me a really strong and disciplined performance.

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“What you accept with Jamie McGuire is that he will give the ball away sometimes when he shouldn’t, but you’ll also not be short of someone maybe coming out with the ball when he’s got no right to. I was really pleased with him.”

Collins should get his chance to impress at Carlisle on Saturday if fit in time.

“He should be right for Saturday for sure, I’ll leave that to the medical team,” said Evans.

“But I’ve got always had a view you need to be on the training ground two or three days. Gone are the days, unless it’s an emergency, when you can say I am suddenly fit and play.

“For Mansfield Town those days need to be gone. They’ve not been gone but they will be gone from now.”