Penultimate friendly for Stags at Mickleover tonight

With players like Pat Hoban, Adam Chapman and Jamie McGuire not getting any action in the 1-1 draw at Alfreton on Saturday, they are expected to play with boss Adam Murray saying of tonight and Saturday’s final friendly at Worksop Town: “They are both first team fixtures so they will be first team squads.”

Mickleover are now managed by ex-Aston Villa and Burton Albion midfielder John McGrath, who took over as player-manager at the end of last season.

McGrath, 36, joined the club last summer as a player and has now stepped up to replace bosses Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins who stepped down to spend more time with their families.

The duo had kept Sports up in their debut NPL Premier season after promotion the previous term, finishing one spot and one point above the relegation places.

Irishman McGrath has now been tasked with continuing their good work and is working at the club full-time while also overseeing the reserve team and Sports’ academy.

Micleover’s Don Amott Arena holds 1,500 fans, 280 seated, and their side may include one or two ex-Stags in Liam Marsden and Callum Lloyd.

They drew 1-1 at home to Derby County’s U23 side on Friday night

The club was formed in 1948 and played in the Derby and District Senior League until 1993 when they joined the Central Midlands Football League. They moved up to Northern Counties East League Division One in 1999, and in the 2000/01 season reached the fourth round of the FA Vase.

Their most recent promotion, to the Northern Premier League, came at the end of the 2014/15 season.

The Don Amott Arena is easy to find off Station Road, Mickleover, in Derby (DE3 9JG) and there is plenty of free parking at the ground.