Mansfield Town to make several changes for Lincoln City Checkatrade Trophy clash

Mansfield Town will make several changes to the side for the visit of Lincoln City on Tuesday in the opening Checkatrade Trophy group game.
Mansfield Town vs Nottingham Forest - One Call Stadium - Pic By James WilliamsonMansfield Town vs Nottingham Forest - One Call Stadium - Pic By James Williamson
Mansfield Town vs Nottingham Forest - One Call Stadium - Pic By James Williamson

Players needing minutes will come in and a youth player or two could be blooded.

“It’s a trophy we respect as we are in it,” said manager Steve Evans.

“We will make changes which will be based on game time and who I think deserves an opportunity.

“The team that starts against Lincoln will bear no resemblance to the one that plays against Lincoln in two or three weeks time.

“We still want to win and be competitive.”

The Lincoln City side could include one or more former Stags with Matt Green, Matt Rhead, Nathan Arnold, Ollie Palmer and Luke Waterfall now with the Imps.

But Evans said: “I have absolutely no interest in what Lincoln are going to do.

“I don’t care if Danny (boss Cowley) is going to make five changes, one change or no change. We have our own project.”

It is only when this competition reaches its knock-out stages and thoughts turn to a possible Wembley final that this competition seems to stir up interest among fans.

“When we went up to Carlisle and got a result last season you get a little bit excited, but then we let ourselves down against Wycombe in the later stages,” said Evans.

“But in these early stages we’ll treat it as it’s been treated in the past where we will involve one or two players and might even have one or two youth players step up.

People have to turn up and produce the performances if they want to be part of our picture going forward.”