Mansfield Town new boy Jack Evans determined to enjoy life after winning cancer battle

The 21-year-old arrived on loan from hometown club Swansea City on the final day of the January window and could make his debut in midfield at Morecambe on Saturday.

But there was a time when the youngster feared he may never play again.

“It's very exciting now to come here and play first team football,” he smiled.

“It's a new experience and one you have to live in the moment.

“After everything that's happened you've just got to get on with stuff and have a positive mindset.”

When what he believed to be a stomach bug turned out to be cancer, Evans' world was turned upside down.

“Until something like that happens you don't realise it could be over in the blink of an eye. Sometimes you can take it for granted,” he said.

“It has definitely made me appreciate things more and take every minute and get everything out of it that I can.

“I was like that anyway but it has made me even more determined to be the best player I can be.

“Things like that always make you mentally stronger too. It has to.

“Going through anything bad and negative in your life, you can take positives out of them and it makes you stronger in the end.”

Evans can still vividly recall how his life was suddenly turned upside down.

“It was a whirlwind,” he said. “My stomach started hurting and I just didn't feel right – I was sick quite a lot.

“I played two games in pre-season and it was hurting me then. I could tell I wasn't right. I then lost the whole season.

“It wasn't until I got diagnosed that I thought it was anything like that. I thought it might be a stomach bug.

“It turned out to be a sort of blood cancer which starts in your stomach which gave me pains and water retention in my lungs was making me sick.

“You just have to do your course of chemotherapy as fast as you can and get back playing football. It was just under a year of treatment, though I had an operation as well.”

He added: “It flew by, but it didn't at the same time. Looking back now it feels like it happened in a blink of an eye.

“Everything went by so fast. I am now just happy to be playing football and get on with it.

“It was tough, but I was lucky to have family and friends around me. They helped me through it. Some people have to go through all that on their own.

“Knowing what I had to do to get back fit so I could get back playing, doing what I love, helped me massively to get through it.”

Evans, who has played for Wales at U19, U20 and U21 level, is now keen to make up for lost time

“At any stage of your career, to lose a whole season is tough,” he said.

“But I do now feel back to normal and better than I did before. I am ready to play now.”

The highly-rated Evans did make his Swansea first debut as a sub in the EFL Cup early this season, but has since struggled to be involved.

“Everyone is frustrated not to play first team football,” he said.

“Everyone knows I needed first team football. You get to a certain stage in the U23s where you need to get out. Getting first team experience is good for you and the club. It's a win-win.

“My agent was working hard and he came up with this move which was a no-brainer for me.

“It's a big club with great facilities and a stadium with top-notch fans as well.

“It's good coming to a new place and finding the standards so high.

“I am now hoping to push on here, play well and get the results we need.”

Evans knows he now needs to adjust to playing men's first team football

“Obviously it's more physical and you just have to adapt to that quickly,” he said.

“In U23s football everyone plays the same way. So it's good to get different styles now and football that's a little bit more direct.

“You just have to deal with it. As long as you win games it doesn't matter how you do it.”

On his own qualities, he said: “Passing is my strongest attribute and, off the ball, winning the ball back and reading games.

“I like to get on the ball and play passes.

“I am more of a defensive midfielder, but I will be wherever the gaffer wants me to be.

“The main thing I want to get while I am here is first team experience. Hopefully I will get a lot of playing time to prove why they brought me in.

“We will take it game by game and hopefully start to pick up some points and climb up the table.”

Evans has already had a taste of Stags' qualities, having played part of the summer pre-season friendly against them in Portugal.

“It was a really tough game on a very hot day,” he recalled.

“But it was good and there are a few familiar faces here that I recognise from then.”