Major worry over keeper Liam Roberts as injury-ravaged Mansfield Town prepare for Bolton Wanderers clash

Roberts missed Saturday's FA Cup win at Accrington Stanley, young understudy Owen Mason saving three spot kicks in a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw.

But Stags, who had 12 key players unable to start at Accrington, have a run of very tough League One games coming up and need to know how quickly Roberts can recover from a rib injury sustained two weekends back.

“He is still sore,” said boss Nigel Clough.

“We are going to look at him again in the morning and see how he is. There is no decision one way or another at this time.

“It happened against Cardiff in the second half.

“One ball bounced and he came to collect it and their player left one on him a little bit.

“He got through to the end of the game but didn't train after that.

“Saturday was not a case of resting him or not risking him – he is injured and still 50-50 for tomorrow.

“I think it's just bruising, but his ribs are incredibly sore.

“I think an outfield player would be fine, but when you are stretching as a goalkeeper for corners and crosses then there could be a problem.”

One option could be to bring in an experienced loan keeper if needed.

“It is under discussion what we would do if he is out longer,” said Clough.

“We are very much aware Owen has only played the one league game and, despite his heroics on Saturday, we are going to have to decide if he is ready for a league game or two against the opposition we've got.”

The last thing Stags needed on Saturday was extra-time at Accrington and Clough admitted: “The extra time has to be factored in when looking at the Bolton game.

“All of a sudden people who have not been playing have played over 100 minutes.

“Ryan Sweeney got through over 120 minutes and huge credit to him as he's not really played much recently.

“Lucas Akins came on at half-time and you think it's for 45 minutes, which is not too bad with his injured ankle.

“But then you factor in the extra-time and added time and he ended up playing over 80 minutes.

“Will Evans was the same and we were trying to protect him with his hand injury. And Elliott Hewitt had a back issue but came on.

“None of them were fit enough to have started the game.

“But we wanted to get through so we had to take a gamble.

“Aaron Lewis missed out with a dead leg. He will hopefully do a bit of training today but is doubtful.

“Joe Gardner is still not ready and all the others are longer term.

“So it will be a roll call on Tuesday morning and we will see who is in the best shape.”

Stags are up against a Bolton side who have just enjoyed a lengthy unbeaten run but will be smarting after being hammered 4-0 at League Two Swindon Town in the FA Cup.

“I don't think we will have the energy to go after teams as much as we have done, but we will see how the lads feel on the night,” said Clough.

“The game sometimes dictates as to what your approach is and how good the opposition are.

“We will certainly be expecting a reaction from Bolton after their FA Cup defeat.

“A few hours on the bus doesn't help but the lads will have had another couple of days.

“We will just get the best team out we can to have a go at them.

“We have just lost three league games on the spin so we need to get a point or three, especially with this incredibly tough run coming up.

“I saw Bolton earlier in the season and they are probably the best footballing team in the division.

“Cardiff are impressive, but I thought Bolton were the best I had seen this season.

“They have a lot of good, dangerous players and they will have been hurt by the cup exit.

“Sometimes it's not the exit but the manner in which it happens and also the margin.

“So we are expecting them to be at it.”

One thing Clough knows he has is a squad with character and fight, despite the dire injury situation.

“Saturday showed the character in this squad without doubt and it couldn't have been a tougher afternoon for us with everything from the conditions to the players missing,” he said.

“I think the tone was set with cup upsets on Friday night when Salford beat Orient.

“We could easily have been one of those casualties. But we dug in and found a way to get a result.

“I think we would have taken penalties at most points before and during the game.

“But to go behind twice, come back and win on penalties showed our character.

“You always need a bit of good fortune, although Owen made three brilliant saves. But penalties are always a toss up once you get to that stage.

“We got through and it is probably as good a result as we have had in the few years we have been here just because of those circumstances.

“They were three brilliant saves. It's funny as a few weeks ago we had penalties in the Newcastle game and he didn't get near one of them.

“I was speaking to their manager after and he said he didn't think they were bad penalties, just exceptionally good saves.

“And it made it easier for our lads who were going up to take them.”