Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough provided an injury update ahead of this weekend’s hotly anticipated encounter at home to Gillingham.
The Stags earned a much-deserved point on Saturday at Bradford against the odds after three players were forced off in the first-half due to injury.
Midfielder Louis Reed, striker Rhys Oates and defender Callum Johnson had to be replaced, but despite the unforeseen changes, Stags rallied to come from behind and earn a draw courtesy of Alfie Kilgour’s stoppage-time header.
Speaking to iFollow Stags in a news conference this morning, Nigel said: “[Louis Reed] had a scan [and] he’s damaged his medial ligament. It’s one of those, it’s not as bad as it could’ve been but also, it’s not brilliant. We’re thinking around the six week mark [for which he will be sidelined] which is a blow for him and us.
“[Rhys Oates’] shoulder came out. It’s not the pectoral muscle he had [injured] last time, it’s a shoulder injury now that needs time to settle down. Probably around [the same amount of time out injured as Louis Reed], six weeks.
“[Callum Johnson] has got a routine groin strain. We are talking maybe four weeks [out] with him.
“[Stephen McLaughlin] is likely to return at a similar time to Callum Johnson.
“[Christy Pym] has done a little bit of work again, he’s not far off, we’ll just see how it goes this week with training but he’s got a chance of at least being on the bench [against Gillingham on Saturday].
“[Hiram Boateng] should be [available]. He was pretty close on Saturday. It just worried us a little [bit] with the nature of the injury. Friday, he trained, but we just didn’t want to risk him.
“To go into Saturday’s game already without [Christy] Pym, [Stephen] McLaughlin, [Hiram] Boateng and [Anthony] Hartigan, to then lose three more [players with injury] in the first-half was [disappointing].”
Former players Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie are set to travel to One Call Stadium for Gillingham this Saturday as Mansfield look to build on their recent good form.
Speaking on this weekend’s opposition, the manager said: “It’s been a great turn around [for the Gills].
“They’ve brought some new players in as we know with two of them (Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie) [signing] from us in January. I think they’re now building up ahead of steam and confidence for the rest of the season.
“I think they will [beat the drop] but it’s very tight down the bottom.
“Oli Hawkins will be a threat from set plays and George Lapslie if he plays or comes on will have to be tracked.”
