Double deadline day delight for Mansfield boss, Nigel Clough, following the loan arrivals of strikers Jordan Rhodes, and Caylan Vickers.

It was a little busy behind the scenes at the One Call Stadium on Transfer Deadline Day this early February as the Stags brought in not one, but two new strikers, in order to help push their promotion bid in EFL League One.

With only the one addition earlier in the window, Clough bringing in Tottenham Hotspur’s defensive midfielder, Matthew Craig, a 21-year-old Scottish U21 international, on-loan until the end of the season, he having had previous loan spells at both Doncaster Rovers, and Barnsley, in the past twelve months.

After a busy summer window though, it would be two further, loan signings that would come in to wear the famous amber-and-blue jersey, with first, the youthful Vickers being announced, followed by the experienced Rhodes.

Vickers, at just 20-years-old, joins the Stags on-loan from Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion, having began his career with League Ones’ Reading, scoring three goals in twenty-two appearances.

Whilst at the Madejski Stadium, Vickers was part of an historic night for the Royals, netting his then employers’ eighth goal in the club record, 9-0 win, away to Exeter City, in the EFL Trophy First Round (19 September 2023).

The youngster moved to the Seagulls just over twelve months ago and, although still to make his senior debut, has appeared for their Academy set-up in this seasons EFL Trophy, arriving at the One Call, on 3 February 2025, until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Speaking of joining the Stags, Vickers told mansfieldtown.net: “I’m really excited to be here.

“I’m an attacking-minded player, quite creative and skilful who hopes to get some goals and assists.

“The manager (Nigel Clough) and his experience, with everything he’s done in football, was a real factor in why I wanted to come here.

“It’ll hopefully be a really good experience here and I’ll do as much as I can to help the team.”

Watch the first interview with Caylan Vickers here

At the other end of the spectrum, is the vastly experienced striker, Jordan Rhodes, who’ll bring some much-needed, additional firepower, to the Stags front-line for the remainder of the current season.

Arriving from fellow League One outfit, Blackpool, Rhodes, who is about to turn 35-years-old, arrives at the Stags with a distinguished, goal-scoring record, whilst has also played in the Premier League, Championship, League One, and League Two, during a career that began back in 2007.

His is a career that started with East Anglian side, Ipswich Town, making his professional debut as a late substitute against Burnley, on 22 December 2007, the Tractor Boys being the first of ten clubs, before the move to Mansfield, on the career path of Rhodes.

A Scottish international, making his debut against Cyprus, as a substitute, in a 2-1 win on 11 November 2011 (11.11.11), the front-man can count on his resume spells at Huddersfield Tow, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield Wednesday.

Initially joining the Tangerines on-loan for the 2023-24 season, fifteen goals in thirty-two matches saw that made permanent in June last year; now, for the remainder of the current campaign, the striker who has helped four of his former employers to promotion (Brentford 2009, Huddersfield Town 2012, Middlesbrough 2016, Norwich City 2019)

Meanwhile, the experienced Rhodes told mansfieldtown.net of his arrival at the One Call that: “I’m really pleased to be here.

“I’ve known of the interest from the club for a week or so and I’m now looking forward to enjoying my football at Mansfield.

“The next three or four months should be really exciting and I’m hoping to contribute in whichever way the manager and his coaching staff deem fit.”

You can watch the first interview with Jordan Rhodes here

Under the radar, there has been a couple of departures from Mansfield, with two strikers going off on-loan, Tom Nichols, signed at the start of February last year, has joined League Two side, Swindon Town, until the end of the season, and James Gale, who’s been at the club since becoming a Stag in September 2021, goes out for his third loan spell, this at National League outfit, Boston United.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Jordan Rhodes a Mansfield Town deadline day signing.