Hunt debut as Stags make 10 changes for Lincoln visit

Defender Johnny Hunt made his Mansfield Town debut as the Stags made 10 changes for tonight's opening Checkatrade Trophy group game at home to Lincoln City.
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Boss Steve Evans had promised wholesale changes, though it was still a strong side comprising first team squad players and no youngsters to blood on a very strong bench.

There was also a first start of the season for George Taft in the centre of defence and Jack Thomas in midfield.

Winger Alex MacDonald made a welcome return from a knee injury for his first outing of the season.

Lincoln made six changes from the side that beat Carlisle at the weekend with starts for ex-Stags Ollie Palmer and Luke Waterfall and another three former Stags on their bench in Matt Green, Nathan Arnold and Matt Rhead.

STAGS: Olejnik, White, Taft, Pearce, Hunt, Potter, Thomas, Digby, MacDonald, Sterling-James, Spencer. Subs: Logan, Bennett, Benning, Atkinson, Hamilton, Byrom, Rose.

LINCOLN: Farman, Long, Habergham, Whitehouse, Waterfall, Palmer, Knott, Maguire-Drew, Dickie, Anderson, Woodyard. Subs:Vickers, Rhead, Green, Bostwick, Eardley, Raggett, Arnold.

REFEREE: David Webb of Lancashire.