Stags' boss Steve Evans says some players have put themselves in his thoughts for this Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash with Carlisle United after displaying impressive performances in tonight's 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Lincoln City.
Stags took an early lead at One Call Stadium through winger Alfie Potter, before Imps' midfielder Elliott Whitehouse levelled just before half-time.
Lincoln then scored twice in the second half through striker Ollie Palmer and late in stoppage time, frontman Matt Green, after 'keeper Bobby Olejnik had gone forward in search of an equaliser.
And the boss believes he now has decisions to make ahead of Saturday's clash with the Cumbrians, despite seeing his side slip to a defeat.
"I think some have put themselves in my thoughts [for Saturday]. You can't lead the line any better than Jimmy Spencer's led the line tonight," the Stags' chief said.
"It looks as though he should've had a penalty, I'll need to see the DVD early in the second half when he turns the defender. I think his overall contribution, bringing players into play and battling with them, it's probably a big reason why we played so well in that opening 25 minutes.
"I thought Alfie Potter, for 60 minutes, was outstanding and as you'd expect with someone who's not had a lot of minutes, he got a little bit tired."
In contrast, the gaffer also thinks that some players showed that they may not be ready to play in the league campaign if required.
"There's two or three in here who are not going to get many minutes, so we need to have a chat in the next couple of days. That's normal - that will be in most clubs.
"It's not just going to be based on the performance against Lincoln, they made four or five changes themselves and we made 10. It's not going to be based on that; it's going to be based on what we've seen leading up to this and I think I said to the chairman (John Radford), this was the final opportunity for some to say 'I should be here because I can play a part'."
With the transfer window set to slam shut at 11.00pm on Thursday evening, the former Leeds United manager is still hopeful of adding to his squad.
"We'll try and do one or two bits and if it can be done, I'm sure the football club will do them. All I can do is, which I've always done, make my recommendations and hope the chairman (John Radford) and the CEO (Carolyn Radford) will support that.
"We've got a great squad here. We've got an outstanding squad of players and perhaps three or four who are just not at the level where they need to be. They're the ones that will go and if we can replace them with some quality, then we'll try and do it."
The gaffer told the local media earlier today that the club has received three bids for two of his players, but he has advised the club's owners to reject the bids.
"It's three bids for two players. Obviously that tells you two [bids] for one and one for the other, but I've made my recommendation to the chairman that they're trying to turn up with balaclavas and take some good players for what they're offering us!
"My recommendation is we keep them, but I pick the team and pick the players, but the chairman and the CEO run the business side, so it's their decision."
Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview.
