Midfielder Kieran Wallace says Nigel Clough’s ‘simplicity’ is one of his greatest strengths as a manager as well as his ability to ‘build a good squad of good players’.
The 27-year-old has played under the boss at Sheffield United, Burton Albion and now Mansfield – where the gaffer yesterday marked two years in charge.
The Nottingham-born midfielder is looking to return to full fitness and fight for a starting shirt at One Call Stadium after his spell at the club has thus far been punctured by time on the sideline.
Speaking to iFollow Stags at a news conference this morning, Kieran was asked about the manager’s strengths and said: “The way he talks about the game and his training methods are simple. Sometimes managers overcomplicate the game, but the way he talks and the way he wants you to play is simple.
“He builds a good squad of players. The lads want to perform for him and that’s how he gets the best out of the players. I certainly know where I stand with him.
“He’s obviously been very good for me and my career. He’s helped me a lot.
“[He’s] shown a lot of faith in me as a player and I think my game suits the way he wants to play as well.
“He’s straight to the point. He was a very good player and a very good manager.”
Wallace came on at half-time for Stephen Quinn in Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup first round victory at Barrow.
When asked about the cup tie, Kieran said: “It was hard fought. They’re on a good run of form and they’re doing well in the league.
“It was tough to come on too. I felt like I was running in mud at some stages, literally mud.
“I thought we saw the game out pretty well in the end.”
Wallace joined the Stags on 28 January 2022 on a free transfer and summed up his time so far at the club.
“It’s been very stop-start for me [at Mansfield], very frustrating,” he said.
“Off the pitch I’ve settled in quite well but on the pitch it has been a little bit frustrating.
“When I joined in January I knew it would be quite tough ‘cause I joined a team that was playing really well.
“In the summer I really thought I could kick on and push through. I missed pre-season through an injury so it’s been quite frustrating.
“I’ve had to make a lot of appearances from the bench [and] I’m just trying to build my fitness up as much as I can. [I’ll] obviously try and get as much game time [as possible] when I'm called upon.
“I’m the sort of player who needs regular training, regular game time. I’m not naturally the fittest. I think anyone who watches me play can probably tell that [with] the way I run and the way I move. There's no secret about that.
“I’m really trying to get that base fitness to kick on and show what I’m about.”
Stags take on the Bantams tomorrow in a League Two encounter as they look to bounce back at One Call Stadium following a 5-2 defeat against Swindon in the last outing.
“They lost on Saturday in the FA Cup but they’re in good form,” said Wallace, speaking about Bradford.
“They’ve overtaken us in the league. Obviously they’re a big club as well with a well-known manager. They’ll be looking to come and get a good result. They won’t sit back and let us dictate [the match].
“It’ll be a really tough game and a good night I think.
