First team coach Andy Garner looks ahead to Mansfield Town’s midweek EFL Trophy fixture against Manchester City U21s.
Stags are up and running in League One with their first three points but were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United a week prior. They will now see if they can get their first EFL Trophy group stage win on the board.
First Team Coach Andy Garner post match interview following the pre-season match against Rotherham Utd at the One Call Stadium, 22 July 2023 Photo credit : Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.mediaplaceholder image
First Team Coach Andy Garner post match interview following the pre-season match against Rotherham Utd at the One Call Stadium, 22 July 2023 Photo credit : Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media
Mansfield were drawn into Group D in the competition, alongside Chesterfield, Port Vale and Wednesday’s opponents Man City U21s. Speaking to the media ahead of the One Call Stadium clash, Garner gave some fitness updates and some insight into who will be playing.
“The players who weren’t involved on Saturday will be involved. The subs who came on, we’ll be looking for them to get a run out. We use it more as a training session really, our emphasis is on Peterborough on Saturday, that’s for sure but it gets players minutes, which are important and keeps them ticking over.
“When they’re out there, they’re battling for a place against Peterborough as well, so they need to perform. We’ve got a good group of players here, very honest players, and I would imagine they are out there to impress. Because if you’re not in the first 11, you want to be on the bench and be involved on Saturday.”
Ollie Taylor, who signed a new two-year contract with Stags this week, is expected to feature against Man City U21s, having impressed during pre-season.
Baily Cargill and Luke Bolton are both yet to get involved for Stags this season as they continue to work towards match fitness. Mansfield were also dealt a blow when David McGoldrick and Tyler Roberts missed the League One opener.
“They will be ruled out, there’s no doubt about that,” Garner said of Cargill and Bolton. “We’ve got to be careful with these players because they’re not far off but there’s no need to be rushing back at all. Baily and Bolts are having some good intensity training sessions for this week and then they’ll be looking to join in maybe next week. Then hopefully David McGoldrick and Tyler Roberts in a couple of weeks.”
There is also an unconfirmed status surrounding Jordan Bowery, who did not attend Tuesday’s training session.
“For some reason he isn’t training so we will go and look at that,” Garner said. “He might just be leaving it today and hopefully be alright for tomorrow, but I’m not sure about that one.”