Mansfield Town

The 25-year-old shot-stopper joined the club on loan until the end of the season at the beginning of January and Stags have conceded just one league goal since his arrival. 

And although he is humbled by individual plaudits, Kean says his job has been made easier by the watertight back four in front of him. 

“From watching the lads against Doncaster, they looked a solid defensive unit so it was always going to be very easy coming in and slotting in behind KP [Krystian Pearce] and whoever he was playing with,” Kean said. 

“I think a lot of credit has to go to the lads in front of me because if you look at Leyton Orient, I don’t think I had anything to do, other than a lot of kicking. 

“I’m part of it but as the last line of defence and like I said before, more credit should go to the lads in front of me just because of how they’ve defended and really they’ve made it easy for me.”

The former Norwich City goalkeeper is one of eight signings which manager Steve Evans has brought to the club over the last month and he says the atmosphere in the dressing room has allowed all new additions to settle in effortlessly. 

“It looks like the lads have gelled really well. I’ve settled in really well but I think that starts in the dressing room – it’s just a good laugh. 

“The lads get on with each other, laughing and joking, some of the lads go out for meals and coffees and things like that. It makes it easier for us all to work for a collective goal. 

“We’re on a high. We’ve done really well in January, aside from that one defeat in the cup, and there’s a lot of belief. 

“You’ve just got to look at the lads that the manager’s signed; they all know the division, they all know how to get out of the division and I think there’s starting to be a bit of belief that we can go and knock on the door of the play-offs.”

Since joining the club, Kean has been ever-present between the sticks but says he is pushed to his limits each day in training by experienced goalkeeping duo Scott Shearer and Brian Jensen.

“Him (Scott Shearer) and Bri (Brian Jensen), I’ve never seen two people work as hard as they do. I know that I’ve got to keep performing to the levels I know I can do, because if I don’t, then Scotty or Bri will be straight back in. 

“They’re very experienced and they know more about football than I do at the minute. If I can pick up on little different bits and bobs and techniques or drills or anything like that, they’ve made it really easy for me. To be fair, it’s one of the best groups, in terms of goalkeeping groups, that I’ve worked in.”

Supporters can view Jake Kean’s full news conference by logging in to Stags PlayerHD.