Mansfield Town monitoring Birmingham City striker Matt Green

Hot-shot Green banged in 25 goals to fire Mansfield to last season’s Blue Square Premier league title before sealing a summer move to Birmingham City.

Green has since failed to establish himself in Lee Clark’s starting eleven and has scored just one goal for the Championship side.

And with the loan window now open Cox could be gearing up for a shock loan raid.

“I would not be doing my job correctly if I did not monitor a striker who scores the amount of goals that Matt does,” said Cox.

“Matt is in the Birmingham reserves at the moment but, knowing him as I know him, he will see it as a challenge and work hard to get in their first team.

“Matt left here to improve himself and I cannot blame anyone for wanting to do that. He did not take the decision to leave Mansfield Town lightly.

“If anything was to happen, then we would be interested. At the moment he is a Birmingham City player and we have to respect both the club and the player.

“I keep in touch with Matt all the time and got to know him very well.

“He helped me out at times and I helped him out, we fed off each other and formed a special relationship.

“Matt has not forgotten his roots and really enjoyed his time at Mansfield Town.

“This is a situation we are monitoring, but that is all it is at the moment.”

Green scored 54 goals during his time at Mansfield and was crowned last year’s Blue Square Premier League’s Player of the Year.