Pre-Christmas friendly sought for Mansfield Town as squad nears full fitness

“We are hoping to arrange a game before Christmas for the rest of the squad who need games as well as for Jimmy Knowles to get some game time before Christmas,” said boss Nigel Clough.

“Jimmy had a little setback a couple of weeks ago. He was due to play at Notts County in the County Cup but he had a bit of discomfort at the back of his knee. I think he's had an injection to settle it down now.

“We are not sure who the opposition will be yet. We have two or three we're talking to at the moment, trying to get the right date and venue.

“If everybody is fit there will be eight or nine needing a game.”

Clough is hoping most of his squad will be available to face Stevenage on Saturday.

“We are getting there – but we do have a couple to check on,” he said.

“Stephen McLaughlin and Rhys Oates played their first games for a while on Saturday so we will have to see how they have fared. But you could see the difference they make coming back in.

“Rhys was a threat all game and Stephen made the winner in the 93rd minute. They are big players for us. To lose your leading scorer for three months is a blow but we have managed to stay in the play-off positions during that.

“With all the other little injuries we have had it's been very stop-start and we've not managed to get any sort of fluency or consistency in team selection or formation.

“You look at the teams up there and they have not had to make changes. One or two doesn't matter but when you're losing three or four important players it does matter.

“JJ is available again after suspension but Lewis Page is still struggling with the kick he got on his Achilles at Notts County. Apart from that we are not too far off.”