Beevers happy after summer operation

Lee Beevers feels his second shoulder-pinning operation in the summer has got him back to full confidence in the joint after a couple of seasons of hell.

The Mansfield Town defender has been hampered by the shoulder dislocating too often and a first operation didn’t seem to do the trick.

Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wycombe, he said the problem had played on his mind during games.

“It was always a thought and you sometimes didn’t go in fully,” he said. “I would hold my shoulder back a bit. But the operation has left it fully stable and good to go.

“The confidence factor has now come back and it’s a great weight off my mind. The only thing with it is it feels strange taking throw-ins. It feels a bit more restricted than it used to when I put my arms behind my head, so that’s probably the end of my long throws.”

Beevers played as a left wing back in last weekend’s fine 2-1 win at Exeter to cover for the ill Rob Taylor and he said: “It is a position I have played before so was nothing out of the ordinary.

“It was a long way down there, but to come back with three points made the journey a lot better.

“It was a great performance in the first half, fantastic, while the second half was a battle, but we held on.

“Something just seemed to click in that first half. The lads played with confidence and wanted to move the ball forward and create as many chances as possible.

“We always knew the second half would be like that and that for the first 10-15 minutes they’d throw everything at us.”

Filling in for Beevers at right wing back was youngster Liam Marsden, who has also displayed a long throw equal to that of Beevers.

“Liam has done brilliantly since he stepped-up towards the end of last year. He didn’t look out of place at all and has continued that and pushed me all the way,” said Beevers.

“It’s good to be training with someone young and coming through and it’s always good to pass on a bit of experience to him to help his career as, when I retire down the line, he will keep playing.”

Tomorrow Wycombe fans may applaud Stags in the 36th minute to mark the favour Stags did by winning with a 36th minute Colin Daniel goal at Bristol Rovers to keep Wycombe up in May.

Beevers added: “Wycombe is always a hard place to go and get a result.

“It would be nice if they did us a favour back and let us have the three points but I don’t think that will happen. It’s a new season now and they are trying to improve on last year as we are.”