I brought Alex MacDonald back too soon admits Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft

MacDonald looked well short on fitness as a second half substitute, having been sidelined with injury since September.

Flitcroft said: “After being out for such a long time, with Macca’s enthusiasm and the way he’s been in training I probably got caught up in that.

“It was only when I put him on that it was a different set of circumstances.

“When you’re on a training ground you are in and among your own players. He lifts the training tempo every day.

“But that was a real hotbed and a difficult game in which to throw him on last Saturday and I probably got it wrong, thinking he was further on than he was with his match-play.”

He added: “He had been out a long time and it probably wasn’t a wise decision to throw him on in such a big game.

“It will take time. We have games booked in for Macca and we’ll work on it.”