Mansfield Town hoping on availability of Krystian Pearce

Mansfield Town are hoping skipper Krystian Pearce will feel ready to lead the side on Saturday for the big opening home clash with Newport County on Saturday.
Mansfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday.
Krystian Pearce is lead away from trouble at the end of the game.Mansfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday.
Krystian Pearce is lead away from trouble at the end of the game.
Mansfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday. Krystian Pearce is lead away from trouble at the end of the game.

An incident in the Sheffield Wednesday friendly last week led to a mass brawl and Stags reporting the Owls to the FA and Police for an alleged racist remark, denied by Wednesday.

A furious Pearce had to be hauled off the field by manager David Flitcroft that night and, on Saturday, he was brought off before the interval with Flitcroft deciding he was in no fit state mentally to focus.

“We hope he will be right for Saturday – he trained yesterday,” said Flitcroft.

“I have the utmost respect for Krystian Pearce and what he’s stepped up to do. But that took its toll on him.

“It is mental pressure and when your mental state is not brilliant, your physical state not either as the two work in tandem and always have and always will.

“The PFA and Kick It Out campaign are supporting tools.

“It’s really important we support Krystian over the next weeks or months, whatever it’s going to be.

“We have got to do that. I have been very good at that over the years I have been doing this as a coach.

“I manage these players like they are my own family – tough love but also unconditional support.

“Krystian will get every bit of support we can offer him through this testing time.

“He is meeting the chairman and Carolyn Radford, who want to offer their support too.

“We will get round him. The PFA and Kick It Out have put good structures around to deal with this sort of thing.

“So it’s important we all say the same message.

“We will get Krystian back to his best and get him up and running.”