Calvin Andrew hoping Stags fans will see the best of him

The 26-year-old, who has played at Championship level and won two promotions, signed for the Stags after impressing on trial in pre-season.

Although he again failed to net after coming on as a substitute in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Dagenham, it was his deft backheel that set up Matt Rhead for the crucial third goal.

“I have started slowly but I am building up, feeling fit and gaining momentum and just want to knock one in,” he said.

“The first goal is always the same for any striker, get your first goal of the season and they come like London buses. I hope I can score it this weekend.

“I have been telling Rheady all week that I hope he gives me one like that. It’s always nice to get an assist and the most important thing was it was the third goal that put the match to bed.

“I am always trying to prove myself. My career has been plagued with injuries but this is my opportunity to show everyone what I am about.

“I did my cruciate ligaments twice which held me back. Now I feel fully fit and just want to concentrate on my game and getting back where I need to be.

“After an injury, a lot of people don’t realise about the mental side when you come back.

“You are still slightly worried about the injury and don’t want it to happen again. People don’t really give you the time to settle. But that’s life. That’s football. I have had a hard couple of seasons but I think I have dealt with it quite well and I am over it now.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s game at Newport County, Andrew said: “It will be an interesting game and it’s always an indicator of where you are when you play a team that came up with you.

“We have picked up some momentum and if we can win there we can continue that like a rolling stone.”

The striker firmly believes Stags can pull off a second successive promotion – and he wants to be a part of it.

“A big reason why I signed here was that we have a very good manager. I was very enthused by what he had to say,” added Andrew.

“And, I know it sounds a but of a cliché when you say they are a good set of lads, but they really are. They say there are no friends in football but I think I’ve made a few here already.

“Once I had been here for a couple of days and got a taste for the place, it was somewhere I wanted to be.

“I hope we can secure promotion here. The whole place is on the up. From what I’ve seen so far there’s no reason why we shouldn’t beat anyone else in the league. We have a good set-up and backing.

“Even the games we have drawn we probably should have won and have been the better team.

“The fans have been brilliant to me so far and I hope I can give something back to them and get a couple of goals this weekend.”