Chris Beardsley back to play big part in rest of Mansfield Town's season

Beardo is back in full training after a niggling shin problem which saw him miss part of a first half of the season in which he often found himself on the bench.

Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to AFC Wimbledon, manager Adam Murray said: “Beardo has seen a specialist and got the all-clear. The programme we had him on has worked well.

“I had a chat with him the other day and he feels like a proper footballer again. “It’s been a tough season for him as every time he’s looked like he was getting going, the shin has given him a setback. He’s not been able to get his rhythm and we’ve not been able to use the option of the target man he is.

“Everyone you speak to about Beardo will tell you he is an absolute handful at this level and he’s won promotion from this level in a very successful team.

“So to have the option of using him or changing games with him is another tool, and I believe we are going into this second half of the season stronger.”