LOMAS ON STAGS: All coming together nicely at the right time for Mansfield Town

It is all in stark contrast to this time last year when a growing injury list suddenly left them unable to win in 14 games until mid-March, which brought a nervous finish to what had been a promising first season back in League One.

This time Nigel Clough's men seem to have better weathered the worst of what had again been another increasingly worrying injury list and, despite having to battle for a point in their last three games, they are eight games unbeaten ahead of two more home games.

New signings Oliver Irow, Jon Russell and Victor Adeboyejo have already shown us glimpses of their capabilities once up to speed, and I think Adeboyejo's physicality and ability to hold up the ball will became an increasingly vital feature for Mansfield.

Spurs youngster George Abbott then arrived this week to bolster midfield options and looks a very exciting and ambitious prospect.

Having played for England U18s then captained Spurs' U21s to the title, he enjoyed an explosive first year at Notts County in his first senior loan last season, making the PFA Team of the Year, scoring five times from the Magpies' midfield.

Abbott took another step up this year and was equally at home in Wycombe Wanderers' midfield in League One before injury and the confident youngster has his sights set much higher.

So he will be far from green and inexperienced when we finally get to see him in a Stags shirt once he is fully fit – hopefully by the Burnley FA Cup trip.

He is very well thought of by fans and team mates at Notts and Wycombe and if he can get back to his best in a Stags shirt, the loss of Jamie McDonnell will soon be forgotten.

Excitingly, Tyler Roberts is almost fit again to return to the fold too.

Last weekend's goalless home clash against Wycombe, played in freezing cold conditions with heavy rain and winds, was another of those instantly forgotten afternoons.

But, on days when you cannot trouble the opposition goal, it is always important to dig in and avoid defeat which Mansfield did well, Liam Roberts only having one real save to make.

The League One table continues to remain incredibly tight with only eight points between ninth-placed Wycombe and 19th-placed Orient.

Stags next host Exeter on Saturday and Peterborough on Saturday – both sides who have improved massively after bad starts to the campaign, but both still sides currently below Mansfield in the table and offering a chance to pick up some vital points to close the gap on the sides above.

It was nice to see the very likeable Davis Keillor-Dunn make a big money move from Barnsley to ‘Hollywood club’ Wrexham this week – a just reward for his superb displays with the Tykes.

No one at Mansfield will ever forget his contribution to the promotion season and the fact that Stags will get a nice chunk of the undisclosed fee Wrexham have paid makes it sweeter still.