'Hopeful for Saturday': Nigel Clough delivers Mansfield Town injury latest after another player ruled out
Mansfield Town were without Tyler Roberts on Tuesday night after he picked up a knock at the weekend.
The striker has had a tough run in with injuries recently and was forced to sit out the Wigan Athletic game after hitting another setback with his fitness.
Roberts was brought off against Notts County in what was his first League One start of the season. He was clattered multiple times throughout the match and is now working through pain in his ribs.
Nigel Clough provided a fresh fitness update on his side after the Wigan match, having touched on those ruled out long-term earlier in the week.
“Roberts has got a rib injury from the challenge against Notts County. I saw him and he was wincing and everything – nasty area to get a knock in. It affects your movement, your breathing, everything, so he was certainly no good for tonight.”
The manager then addressed George Abbott, who has missed the last two games for Mansfield Town. Stags have really felt the absence of the hard-working midfielder but he could return against Macclesfield in the FA Cup this weekend.
“We’re hopeful for Saturday, he’s another that’s day-to-day really. We’ll see how he’s going. He tried it yesterday [Monday] but he was still a bit too sore.
“We’ve managed to get through without him but we need the five or six players out when you’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. It takes its toll and we need everybody available as soon as we can.”
While Roberts and Abbott are more short-term setbacks, Stags are due to be without Liam Thompson for some time while he recovers from a significant calf injury. Lucas Akins is also out for a lengthy period after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty back in September.
Baily Cargill and David McGoldrick are also still out, with little information on when they might return to match action.