Boss Nigel Clough has said the club’s summer signings have ‘fitted in really well’ with the Stags over the course of pre-season training.
The manager, speaking days after his side’s pre-season opener against Retford United, says he is ‘very pleased’ with the additions that he has made ahead of 2021/22.
Nigel Clough also revealed that the Stags are still in the hunt for ‘maybe one or two’ more signings before the new campaign.
“We’re very pleased with what we’ve got and who we’ve brought in. I still think we’re maybe one or two [signings] light,” he told iFollow Stags.
“We’d like to get some in, but that will depend on outgoings, as much as anything.
“We’re pleased with the characters that have come in so far. I think they have fitted in really well to the culture that was already here.”
Mansfield emerged as 9-1 victors in their opening clash of pre-season, against Retford on Tuesday, with new strikers Danny Johnson and Ollie Hawkins amongst the goals.
The boss said it was ‘great’ to see his new frontmen score in their first games for the club, as well as revealing that recent signing Rhys Oates may feature at Matlock on Friday.
“It was an ideal run-out for our first one [against Retford],” he added. “We’re only nine or ten days into pre-season, but we had to start the games programme a bit earlier this year.
“The players have been working over the summer, so they’re hopefully a bit fitter and we can start the games earlier.
“It was ideal to get 60 minutes into most of the lads, and then because of the six or seven we’ve got missing [due to self-isolation], we could get the young lads on.
“With strikers, it doesn’t matter the opposition. If you’re playing in your first game, you want to score. For them both to score [Ollie Hawkins and Danny Johnson], it was great.
“It’ll be a very similar squad [to Retford game for Matlock friendly]. Stephen Quinn won’t make it, but hopefully Rhys Oates might have half-an-hour.
“It’ll be the same plan – 60 minutes for the lads that start, then 30 minutes for the other lads to relieve them for the last half-an-hour.”
It was announced on Tuesday that striker Jamie Reid had signed for Sky Bet League Two side Stevenage for an undisclosed fee.
On the departure of Reid, the boss said: “We had an opportunity to sign Rhys Oates, who we think gives us something a little different in our striking department.
“Jamie [Reid] hadn’t 100 percent settled. I had a good chat with him at the end of the season, and he was disappointed in some of his own performances.
“We loved his work-rate, but with the emergence of Ty [Sinclair] at the end of last season, we think they’re quite similar.
“We probably didn’t need them both, so it was an opportunity for Jamie to move on. I had a chat with him yesterday to wish him all the best.
“It’s a fresh start for him, and we’re more than aware that he has the ability to score a few goals for Stevenage.
“But, with bringing the strikers in that we have, someone had to make way. We’re not looking for another striker now. We have nice options up there.”
There was also an injury update from the manager ahead of Friday night’s friendly at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
“He [Quinn] just rolled his ankle trying to win a header just before half-time. He’ll probably miss the Matlock game, but I think he’ll be alright for next week – it’s just precautionary.
“In terms of fitness, he’s been up there in the top four or five in the running that we’ve done. So I don’t think a few days off will do too much harm.
“I think he [Law] will be back next week sometime. He had a precautionary scan [on his ankle], which has revealed some bruising and some swelling.
“It’s still quite painful for him, but he’ll hopefully be back next week.”
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