Matt Rhead gets the call for Stags at Newport County

Matt Rhead was rewarded for his goal and fine second half display against Dagenham and Redbridge last Saturday with a starting place in Mansfield Town’s tough away trip to Newport County this afternoon.

The big striker replaced Ollie Palmer, who suffered concussion last weekend but was fit enough to take a place on the bench.

James Jennings, who hurt his ankle in the same game and hadn’t trained all week, was also passed fit to keep his place in the starting XI.

Newport, with a lengthy injury list, could only name six substitutes, but the starting XI included Adam Chapman, who played his part in Stags’ promotion push last season on loan from Oxford United, as well as ex-Mansfield defender Tom Naylor, who is on loan at Rodney Parade from Derby County.

NEWPORT: Pidgeley, Pipe, Hughes, Chapman, Minshull, Zebrowski, Willmott, Jackson, Naylor, Worley, Jolley. Subs: Yakubu, Crow, Washington, Burge, Flynn, Stephens. STAGS: Marriott; Sutton, Dempster, Riley; Beevers, Clements, Hutchinson, McGuire, Jennings; Rhead. Clucas. Subs: Stevenson, Howell, Meikle, Andrew, Daniel, Mitchell, Palmer. REFEREE: Dave Phillips of West Sussex.