After forging a fruitful partnership with Danny Rose this season, frontman Kane Hemmings is enjoying life alongside the Stags’ top scorer and is aiming to add more goals to his game in the final stretch of the season.
The Oxford United loanee has found the back of the net eight times this season and his tireless performances have impressed Stags’ fans since his arrival in August.
And the 26-year-old believes that he and his strike partner have complemented each other well so far this season, having scored 25 goals between them since the beginning of the campaign.
“I think we’ve got a good understanding of what each other’s roles are and how we both work, and I think we both work hard for the team so it’s been enjoyable,” the former Dundee man said.
“We’re both in good form and we’re both playing with confidence, so I’m enjoying it at the moment and I’d like to think he [Danny Rose] is as well.
“He’s good in the air, so I’ll always be running off him and in recent weeks the gaffer has highlighted that.
“We’re playing closer together and I think that’s good for us, and I just find him very easy to play with because you know what you’re going to get. I think we complement each other well in the way that we work and play.”
On a personal note, Hemmings is hoping to add to his season’s tally of eight goals from 24 appearances as the Stags head into their final 13 games.
“I should’ve scored a few more goals but I’d be more disappointed if I wasn’t getting in the right areas so I’ll keep getting in there.
“Once you’re in the box, it’s a bit hit-and-miss whether you score, but hopefully I’ll put more away than I miss between now and the end of the season.”
In the league, the Stags have lost just one of their last 12 games, and following a run of five wins in their last six matches, Hemmings commented on the positive mood within the Stags' camp.
“Training’s been really good and really sharp - it’s very bubbly and everyone’s upbeat.
“Once you’re in the box, it’s a bit hit-and-miss whether you score, but hopefully I’ll put more away than I miss between now and the end of the season.”
“It’s a case of just working hard on the training pitch and taking it into Saturdays.
“I think over the last couple of months we’ve been putting in really good performances and got a good run of form, so we’ve put ourselves in a great position.”
The Stags take on Coventry City at One Call Stadium on Saturday (24 January, 3.00pm kick-off) with Steve Evans' men aiming to move into the top three, while the Sky Blues will be hoping to close the gap on the play-off places and Hemmings is looking forward to another big game.
“Coventry are a very good team but we’ve already beaten them once this season and we’ll take confidence from that.
“We’ve been very good this year so hopefully we can keep this run that we’re on at the moment going and get another three points to keep us pushing up the table.
“It’ll be two teams trying to get on the ball and dominate each other to make the possession count so I’m expecting a very good game.”
With a bumper crowd expected at the One Call Stadium for Saturday’s game, marksman Hemmings is pleased with the backing of Stags’ supporters.
“It always helps when you’ve got the backing of the fans and when there’s more there making loads of noise to make a good atmosphere – that’s all you ever want as a player.”
Supporters will be able to view Hemmings’ full news conference on iFollow Stags later today.
