Raynes (hamstring) and Clements (foot) ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Cobblers.
Both centre-back Michael Raynes and playmaker Chris Clements have been ruled out of featuring in Saturday’s home match against Northampton Town.
Raynes, who has been an ever-present since he joined us last month, limped off with hamstring damage in the final quarter of our disappointing defeat to Morecambe at the Globe Arena in midweek, and is set to have a scan today which will reveal the full extent of his injury.
Clements, meanwhile, suffered a nasty cut to the foot in our victory over Stevenage last weekend, and isn’t expected to return in time for our game with Northampton.
Speaking at this morning’s press meeting, first team coach Micky Moore said: “He [Michael Raynes] is going for a scan this morning, but we’re not very hopeful.
“We think he’s pulled his hamstring so we’ll know the exact extent of it, in terms of length of time, later today, but the signs aren’t good.
“Chris obviously missed the game on Tuesday and all being well, I’d say he’ll be back for the game with Luton.
“He’s been playing well so it’s another blow to us, but these things are here to test us and we’ve just got to get on with it now.”
Raynes’ unfortunate hamstring injury means that we are without three of the six players who joined us in January, as experienced midfielder Ricky Ravenhill (hamstring) and Matty Blair (knee) are also sidelined.
Moore continued: “I think [injuries] have been the story of the season. At one stage in the early part of the season, we had nine or 10 players out.
“We thought we had turned a corner and we got our business done early in January. We highlighted the players that we thought would improve us and shoot us up the league table, then three of them end up getting injured.
“Matty (Blair) is obviously out for a long period of time and both Ricky Ravenhill and Michael Raynes have pulled their hamstring, so they’re going to be out for a considerable amount of time.
“Obviously you want to try and get them back as quickly as possible, but you can end up getting them back too soon, and then they’re out for even longer.
“In the long-term that can be more detrimental, so we’re in the hands of the Gods as to how long they’ll be. It’s just an unfortunate situation at the moment.”
Micky Moore’s full interview from this morning’s press meeting will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here.
