Stags won’t rush defensive pair back for Grimsby

Both are back in light training and were expected back into the squad.

But, with another game ahead at Lincoln on Tuesday, it is now expected they will be given a few more days to regain their fitness.

By Tuesday, Mansfield hope to only have Sam Clucas in the treatment room.

After playing the likes of Aston Villa, Leeds United and Notts County, Stags deliberately set up these trips to Grimsby and Lincoln to give them a taste of the more physical matches they can expect at League Two level in the season ahead.

Assistant boss Adam Murray said: “We knew when we set the games up that we would have some nice games against big names that would test our fitness, our shape and concentration.

“But these games are a bit more realistic challenges like the competitive games we are going to come up against.

“They are good games for us and we are looking forward to them.”

After bringing in Simon Heslop and Sascha Studer (pictured) this week, Stags may add one more outfield player with the unnamed left-sided trialist a likely candidate.