Striker Adi Yussuf is keen to repay the faith shown in him by manager Adam Murray after he brought him to the club from non-league Oxford City in the summer.
The Tanzanian was a summer acquisition from the part-timers and is currently settling into professional life and Sky Bet League Two football with the Stags. The 23-year-old was keen to express just how much his teammates and manager have played a part in his transitional period and spoke humbly about last seasonās form which won him a move to Nottinghamshire.
āThe time will come [for me to get some starts], Iām sure the gaffer knows what heās doing, heās trusted me so I give him 100 percent trust. Thereās no rush, itās a long season so Iām sure Iāll get my chance.
āThe summer I went to Oxford City, quite a few teams said they didnāt want me and said I wasnāt good enough. In the same year I got a move to league football, I was pinching myself for a good week. Iām glad itās happened and I just want to establish myself in League Two now. I got lucky at Oxford, we had a good team.ā
On Mansfieldās forwards, he commented: āAll of them have got different qualities. Matt Green is the fittest man Iāve seen, unbelievably fit. Heās got everything, I see him as an older brother. Every single day he comes to speak to me and gives me advice, I canāt thank him enough.
ā(Craig) Westcarrās a different striker to me but heāll never lose the ball. His first touch is always on point. The way Beardo (Chris Beardsley) holds the ball up is probably better than any of us. All four of us are different. I take my tips off all of them ā weāve got a close team so we all talk to each other and help each other.ā
The former Leicester City youngster was at Oxford City following spells at Histon FC, Harrogate Town and Gainsborough Trinity and Yussuf, speaking in this morningās news conference, talked openly about the differences between part-time and full-time football.
āAt Oxford we were only training on Tuesday night and Thursday night ā quite a few people had two jobs so they were coming in late, weād start training and 7pm and it wasnāt as intense because some people would be tired.
āHere itās training every day, the gafferās working us hard, running every day, itās good. Iām doing my extra bits but Iām still behind with the fitness side because Iām used to training twice a week so Iām still adapting to it. Iām slowly improving.ā
There has been one person in Yussufās life that has been a constant presence ā his Dad. The striker has heaped praise on his father, who has been there with him every step of the way on his journey to professional football.
āIāve been through some hard times but my Dad would never, ever let me give up and Iāve never lost faith. If you work hard, then anythingās possible. My Dad never misses a game, if he could he would come to training as well. Heās actually asked me if heās allowed to come [to training] and watch but Iāve said ānoā ā that would just be annoying!
āHeās been to different countries [to watch me play], literally every game. Whenever I score, I always go up to him because I know when I score it makes his day and makes him proud ā I always thank my Dad. He was the only one that was there for me when times were really bad.ā
You can watch Yussuf's news conference on Stags Player later.