Thomas targets Football League return with ambitious Basford after leaving Mansfield Town

It has been an emotional summer for the 22-year-old, moving on after spending his whole career with the Stags.

But, after his exciting rise hit a brick wall at Mansfield following a series of loan spells, he admitted it had been time for a change after his summer release by David Flitcroft.

He is now playing for a Basford club who are the next highest-ranked outfit in the county behind the three EFL clubs in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division, just three steps behind League Two.

“I needed a change and it’s a good project at Basford,” he said. “They have high ambitions and I am looking forward to it.

“I believe in a few years time Basford could be a Football League club. I think we can do it and I’d love to be part of that journey.

“I know the club see this as a season of consolidation. But without setting too high a target, with the squad we’ve got we could definitely get into the play-offs.”

Thomas admitted it had been strange not starting a season at the One Call Stadium and cited injuries as the reason for his career stalling.

“It felt weird when pre-season started, not going back to Mansfield,” he said.

“I have nothing but good memories there, but I’d say me and the club were both probably ready for a change if I’m honest.

“The 12 or 13 games I played at the back end of that first season I did really well, but I just kept picking up niggling injuries, which was hard.

“Then I picked up a groin injury that kept me about three or four months and after that I found it hard to get my rhythm back. It was so frustrating.”

Thomas knew it would be hard to force a way in under Steve Evans and was proved right. Then he admitted he had not played well enough to force a first team place under new boss Flitcroft.

“It was frustrating last season. I think I was a bit unfortunate too,” he said.

“When I got recalled by Steve Evans the first game against Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy I did really well. But I never got a chance after that.

“I think he’d brought his own players in and if you weren’t one of them you didn’t really stand much of a chance, especially being a young lad too. I think if I’d been an experienced player I’d have had more of a chance.

“If we are going to be honest he hasn’t really got a reputation for bringing young players through. So it was always going to be hard under him, though I’ve got nothing bad to say about him.”

On Flitcroft, he added: “I thought it would be another chance for me and the first couple of months I started really well and trained really well.

“But then for some reason training didn’t go so well for me and everything I tried just didn’t come off, so I didn’t really deserve to be in the squad and I have got no arguments.”

Now he is looking forward to helping neighbours Basford move a step closer to the Stags, saying: “It feels very exciting, especially as I have been playing most of the full games and got quite a few 90 minutes in me which is different to pre-season last season as I was sat on the bench for most of the games.

“I feel like I am getting back to my best – I have not really played for two years. It’s all about building my match fitness up again and I can feel it coming.”

On the current Stags side, he added: “I think they are in for a good season. I always listen out for the result and from the highlights I watched of the Accrington game they looked unbelievable.

“If they have a midweek game and I haven’t I will definitely go back and watch them – though only if one of the players can get me a free ticket!”