Stags' striker Craig Westcarr is no stranger to success after winning promotion from League Two in the 2009/10 season with Notts County, and that hasn’t diminished his ambition to do it again.
The 30-year-old joined the Stags from Portsmouth in the summer and insists that his aim is to fire the Stags to promotion.
“I haven’t come here just to be in the squad and play every week and just be happy with mid-table. I’ve come to Mansfield with one target; to get in the play-offs or go up automatically," said Westcarr.
“I’ve not come just to sit about and pick up my money. I’ve come to help the team and help the manager. The manager’s put faith in me to come here and my aim is to reward him by getting to where we want to be as a squad.”
The former Nottingham Forest frontman has obtained a place in the starting XI in the last two matches, after beginning the season as a substitute and says that his hard work in training hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Obviously I didn’t start the season properly but I’m in the team now and the gaffer has said 'when you’re in the team you’ve got to keep the shirt'. You’ve got to keep your standards and I’d like to think I’ve done that at the minute and long may it continue.
“The gaffer picks the team and it was up to me to work hard and the gaffer’s seen that I’ve been working hard in training and he’s given me my chance really which I’m happy for.”
Westcarr says there is a positive atmosphere within the squad and everyone is working towards the same goal.
“It’s a really good squad, it’s a hard-working squad and everyone wants to do well for each other.
“There is some good banter but everyone wants to work hard on the serious side and everyone wants to win.
“The senior lads are always talking to the younger lads to help them. There’s quite a few that I always talk to and I always let them know what’s what and what they need to do to help themselves.”
The forward has enjoyed a striking partnership with Matt Green recently and Westcarr hopes it can continue in the weeks to come.
“Playing alongside Greeny is always brilliant because he runs in behind and he does all the stuff that the top strikers do. It is really good to play with him and hopefully he can keep scoring and [we can] get to where we want.
“Greeny’s not reached top gear yet but we’re a new team at the end of the day and people need to realise that it does take a while to gel.
“People need to be patient with what the gaffer’s brought in because it is a brand new team and we’ve got a really good squad and some really good players.”
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