Stags’ new right wing-back Gethin Jones says he was ‘made up’ to hear that Mansfield were interested in him, labelling his switch to Nottinghamshire as a ‘perfect opportunity.’
We announced earlier today that the 23-year-old has joined the amber and blue on loan from Fleetwood Town until the end of the season.
Jones explained that he ‘couldn’t say no’ to the opportunity of joining the high-flying Stags.
“As soon as I got told by Fleetwood and my agent that Mansfield wanted to sign me, I was made up,” he said, speaking in his first interview as a Mansfield player. “I’d seen how well they’ve been doing lately and I think it’s a perfect place to get game time, get experience and hopefully get Mansfield up.
“In pre-season I did very well and I got a few games at the start of the season for Fleetwood. I haven’t played as many games as I wanted to, so it was always the plan from the start of December that I wanted to go on loan in January.
“There were a few clubs sniffing for me, but when I saw that Mansfield were interested, I couldn’t say no to that.
“I know the players that are here – there are big players that have come here from a higher level than Fleetwood to progress Mansfield.
“I just wanted to come and play football. I’ve seen them [Stags] doing well because I have a few mates at other clubs in League Two, so I look out [for them] and obviously have seen how well Mansfield have been doing.
“It’s a big positive for me to see that the manager wants to bring me in, and it will help me to get game time.
“It’s perfect for me because I’ll be playing for something every game now. It was something that me and my agent spoke about. It’s a perfect opportunity.
"There were a few clubs sniffing for me, but when I saw that Mansfield were interested, I couldn’t say no to that."
“[I want to achieve] what me, my agent and the manager, along with the whole club [want to achieve] and get promotion. I want to get as many games under my belt as possible and get the team up to League One.”
The defender enjoyed his first training session with his new team-mates this morning, and was impressed by the quality on show from the Mansfield charges.
He also listed the qualities that the Stags’ faithful can expect to see from him on the pitch.
“All the lads are very welcoming,” he added. “It was a really good [training] session preparing for tomorrow night’s game against Forest Green.
“It will be a tough game, but [from] what I’ve seen on the training ground there, we’re capable of beating anyone.
“I like to attack as a full-back, get out wide and get crosses into the box. Obviously I’ll do my defensive duties that I have to do. I like to get up and down the pitch as much as I can.”
Jones already boasts experience in this division, having played for Plymouth Argyle during a brief loan spell in 2015.
He explained that he was utilised as a central midfielder during that time, yet reaffirmed that his favoured position is at right wing-back.
“That [spell with Plymouth] was a good experience because we got into the play-offs. I played in different positions because at that stage I was playing more as a centre-midfielder.
“That was a good experience and I know a bit about the league as I probably played around ten games then.
“Since Plymouth, I’ve become a natural right wing-back and went on loan to Barnsley in the Championship as a right wing-back.
“Through the Everton ranks I played as a right-back and it was the same with Fleetwood. I’m really enjoying it and I want to show the fans what I can do.”
iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the defender’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.
