Stags miss out, but still hopeful of new striker for the weekend

Nevertheless, Stags continue to speak to players, some will play in an 11 on 11 training game this afternoon, and assistant boss Adam Murray remains hopeful the club will have a new face in for the weekend.

“That is the plan – the quicker the better, too, as we need them to come into our environment, work with the lads and ourselves and understand what we are about,” he said.

“There has been a lot of negotiations and talks going on, but we have missed out on a couple of bodies we were looking at for various reasons. It wouldn’t be right to name names.

“Now we are just concentrating on the other irons we have got in fires.

“The gaffer went off to see another game yesterday to watch a player.

“I know progress is slow, but we have to make sure the people we have coming in are the right ones.

“We are close to one or two deals right now. But, in this game, within an hour you can be a million miles away. It is frustrating. But we are working hard and not sitting round laughing and joking.”

Murray confirmed that a goalscorer was top priority.

“Yes, 1,000 per cent, we need one. Look at the chances we created on Saturday, we need someone who can put them away,” he said.

“We need something to compliment the other boys who will bring something to the side. We need that fox in the box with a bit of pace who can anticipate the area to be in and can finish.

“Someone who can sniff out chances – an out and out goalscorer.”

Murray added that the January shopping list was all about getting in players that can make things happen in the last third of the pitch.

He said: “It’s all about forward areas. We need creativity in the last third and an end product. We need that bit of intelligence, that bit of nous.”