Price is right as Stags head for Accrington

Lewis Price will definitely be in goal for Mansfield Town as they chase their play-off dream at Accrington Stanley tomorrow (Good Friday, 3pm).

And the Stags are putting everything in place to make sure the on-loan Crystal Palace stopper is eligible for Monday’s visit of Cheltenham Town if Alan Marriott and Ian Deakin are still out injured.

Stags have to officially rule out their two keepers on medical grounds for a seven-day period, so if either of them is fit for Monday then Price has to return to Selhurst Park from his emergency loan spell.

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But, if neither keeper is fit enough, Price could be in the side until the end of the season, with Stags facing four games to clinch a play-offs spot.

“It will be touch and go for Mazza or Deaks to be fit for Monday so we have put in another seven days for Lewis,” said manager Paul Cox.

“It’s been agreed between the two clubs that we can use him as long as we need until the end of the season.

“Under FA law, every seven days we have to give them a medical report on our keepers. But we are covering ourselves and leaving nothing to chance.

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“We have staff here working extremely hard behind the scenes to make sure the paperwork is done.”

Would Cox consider taking Price long-term if he became available in the summer and was happy to drop three divisions?

He said: “Never say never. He is having a look at us and we are having a look at him. But we do have two good keepers here already. We will look at it when the dust has settled at the end of the season.”