The winter transfer window, was, in the end, a somewhat busy one for Nigel Clough and Mansfield Town, they welcoming six new players to the One Call Stadium ahead of a playoff push in the second half of the season.

One of the key areas in which Clough has strengthened is the goalkeeping department; with former number one, Christy Pym, having been released in the summer (he’s now at Grimsby Town), Clough signed Liam Roberts from Millwall as a direct replacement.

Roberts has already racked up some thirty-one appearances (in all competitions), with understudy Owen Mason playing the other four; Harry Lewis meanwhile has now joined the Stags, from Carlisle United, and will give both Roberts, and Mason (who’s currently on loan at Southend United), a healthy challenge for the ‘keepers jersey.

Beginning his career at then Premier League side, Southampton, Lewis would make a handful of appearances, his debut coming in the 2-2 draw with Norwich City in the FA Cup, back in early January 2017.

Since then, he’s enjoyed a loan spell north o’ the border, with Dundee United, registering 39 appearances at Tannadice during their 2017/18 Scottish Championship season, ultimately losing out in the Premiership Playoff semi final to Livingston.

He then went on to play 84 times for Bradford City, and 36 times for Carlisle United, taking the field on 120 occasions over the past four seasons alone, before moving to Mansfield late in the transfer window, for an undisclosed fee, and an eighteen-month contract.

Speaking of the addition of Lewis, Stags boss, Clough, told the club website that: “With Owen Mason and Anthony Nunez getting invaluable experience on loan – which young goalkeepers need at any level – Harry fitted the bill for us to come in as a good, experienced number two goalkeeper to Liam (Roberts).

“In the first half of the season, Owen was on the substitutes’ bench for us in the league and was guaranteed to play in three matches in the Vertu Trophy and got a bonus in the FA Cup.

“The plan was always to look at it again after Christmas and see what the best course action was and we think this is it.”

In addition to Lewis’ arrival at the One Call, Clough has also brought in two midfielders, Jon Russell and George Abbott, loaned from Barnsley and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, and three strikers, Victor Adeboyejo, Tyler Roberts (loan made permanent), and Oliver Irow, from Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, and Tottenham.

Regarding Tyler Roberts, the experienced striker initially joined on a season long loan from Birmingham, and has netted three goals in his nine appearances to date, a return that has been enough for the club to make his move more permanent.

Alongside fellow new arrivals, Adeboyejo and Irow, the latter netting two in four, and the experience already at the club in Lucas Akins, Will Evans, Dominic Dwyer, and Rhys Oates

(Max Dickov has been loaned out to Tranmere Rovers), the firepower should be sufficient for that push to the playoffs, at least.

Looking at the remaining signings Clough has made in the winter window, the last to arrive, midfielder George Abbott, will of course stick out, the Spurs loanee having recently enjoyed a loan spell at nearby Notts County.

Now 20-years-old, Abbott has made one appearance for the Premier League outfit, coming on as a late substitute in the 4-1 win over Leeds United in late May 2023; the following season saw him captain Spurs’ U21s to the Premier League 2 title before being loaned out to Notts County for the 2024/25 campaign.

Whilst at Meadow Lane, Abbott netted six times in forty-six appearances, helping the Magpies to the playoff semifinals, whilst also being named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year, and notching the EFL Goal of the Season award, for his effort away to Accrington Stanley, a cross-goal volley into the far corner (it was also awarded the January Goal of the Month).

Having spent the first half of this campaign on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, Spurs have now shipped him out to Mansfield for the remainder, he telling the club website of the move that: “I’m really happy to be here.

“It’s a new start again for me and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“As soon as there was interest from Mansfield, I talked to Oliver (Irow, fellow loanee from Spurs), who spoke so highly of the club and it was an easy decision to sign on loan.

“I’m a defensive midfielder, or box-to-box midfielder, and I like to get stuck in and win tackles as well as get forward quite a lot and have a few chances.”

With a busy month ahead for the Stags, in both league and cup, the new signings will likely get runouts sooner than later; six games throughout February, Mansfield first welcome Exeter City to the One Call Stadium this coming Saturday (7 February) as they look to push towards the playoff places.

A highlight though will be on Valentines Day (Saturday 14 February) when Nigel Clough takes his battle-hardened side to Turf Moor, home of Premier League side, Burnley, in the FA Cup Fourth Round, before closing the month with two tough home games, against Lincoln City and AFC Wimbledon.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc George Abbott signs on loan from Spurs.