Mansfield Town were back in training yesterday as their focus draws to the new campaign ahead and a friendly with local non-leaguers Retford United next Tuesday night the Stags first game of a heavy summer load of fitness gaining prior to the 2021\/22 Football League Two campaign.<\/p>\n
Adding to recent signings Ollie Hawkins and Danny Johnson from Ipswich Town and Leyton Orient respectively, Goalkeeper Nathan Bishop loaned from Manchester United will fight for a place with main stay Marek Stech and another new young shot stopper who has been loaned in from Nottingham Forest, George Shelvey is just nineteen having spent a spell on loan at Southern League Truro City last season.<\/p>\n
Another young player joining Mansfield on loan is Ryan Burke from Birmingham City, the 20-year-old Irishman is a left back who joined the Blues as a sixteen year old from St Patricks Athletic before being sent out to National League side Yeovil Town last year.<\/p>\n
When asked of the signing Manager Nigel Clough stated \u201cWe needed someone to push Stephen McLaughlin, who will probably start out as our first choice left-back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s aggressive and has a lovely left foot. I\u2019ve seen him play in the left of a back-three, a left wing-back and as an orthodox left-back. He\u2019s equipped himself well in each position.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Stags players were back at the RH Academy yesterday with the dreaded \u2018bleep test\u2019 followed by some light passing with Clough saying \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see them all back looking relatively healthy \u2013 they\u2019ll look a lot better in five weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n