Striker Fisher signs for Stags

Mansfield Town unveiled the first of their two new strikers this morning when they announced that Alex Fisher would be signing from from Italian Serie C club AC Monza, subject to international clearance.

The 6ft 3ins 23-year-old, who has bagged 44 goals in 120 senior games and attracted interest from Hamburg and Genoa, boasts experience in Spain, Belgium and Italy, but started out in the academy ranks at Oxford United during Stags assistant manager Adam Murray’s days there.

In his two-year professional career at the Kassam Stadium, Fisher progressed from youth to first team level and featured on 13 occasions between 2007 and 2009.

The youngster also spent time on loan at both Brackley Town and Oxford City, during which he scored 15 goals in a combined total of 21 appearances.

After joining the prestigious Glenn Hoddle Academy in 2010, Fisher impressed in his new surroundings and played for Jerez Industrial alongside current team-mate Sam Clucas.

He bagged 11 goals in 21 league appearances, but a serious facial injury sustained in a match against Los Palacios hampered his progress that term.

Following a short spell at Belgian outfit KVK Tienen in 2012, the Westminster-born striker penned a move to Racing Mechelen for the 2012/13 campaign and scored 10 goals in 27 outings.

A month-and-a-half stint at KSK Heist followed last summer, before Fisher penned a deal with Italian Serie C outfit AC Monza, who finished in fourth position in their 18-team league last term.

“I’ve been playing in Italy for the past year and my ambition has always been to come back to England and play at home, so when the opportunity presented itself to come here through a few contracts, I jumped at it,” said Fisher.

On his playing style, he added: “Each country (I’ve played in) has had its own kind of style. I’ve played in several different types of formations.

“I’ve played out wide, as a number nine, in narrow formations, formations that use wingers, some very technical football and some direct football.

“I feel that being able to play and adapt to different styles, having experienced it first hand through different managers and different cultures has certainly helped me learn the game.

“If I was able to try and bring that here, it could be a really good thing.”

Stags manager Paul Cox was delighted to get his man and said: “The first point of contact was Adam Murray who remembers Alex making his debut at 16 or 17 at Oxford. They played together on a number of occasions and Muzza has given him a glowing reference.

“Then he went out to the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain where he played with Sam Clucas.

“He played Spanish Division Two, moved on to Belgium Division Two and then in the top tier there.

“At 23 he is a very good player and is going to get better. He is still contracted to Monza for another year and has had Hamburg and Genoa chasing him of late. But he has expressed a desire to come home.

“I have spoken to a lot of contacts and studied video footage and he looks to have all the hallmarks and attributes we are looking for.

“He has been used to playing the continental way on his own up front and I am quite excited about this deal and am looking forward to working with him. The lad could be a revelation at this level.”

Stags are hoping to unveil another new striker signing this week.

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