Stags booster as Pearce injury is not deemed serious

Mansfield Town were today boosted by the news that injured defender Krystian Pearce should be back in action in the next week or two.
Krystian Pearce. Picture: Chris EtchellsKrystian Pearce. Picture: Chris Etchells
Krystian Pearce. Picture: Chris Etchells

Pearce, so consistent this season, limped off the pitch during the first half of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Carlisle with some crucial games looming as Stags try to finish in the play-offs.

However, today boss Steve Evans said: “We are pretty confident it’s a sprain, so it’s just down to the healing process of the body.

“Some people can come back from a strain in four or five days and some people are nine or 10.

“It will be Wednesday or Thursday before we know how much movement Krystian has got in it.

“It was an innocuous challenge. The boy was probably a little bit late, they fell into each other and he rolled on him.”

Thankfully the Stags have just welcomed giant centre halves Kyle Howkins and George Taft back into the squad after injuries and Howkins impressed on Saturday after taking over Pearce’s role.

“I thought Krystian was playing really well,” said Evans.

“But we had an opportunity to get Kyle on the pitch and I thought he was outstanding in spells. He won a lot of headers.

“We’ve also got George Taft, who has been the most unfortunate man in the football club not to have worked his way onto the bench because he has been excellent in training.

“We have always said they would be like two new players and thankfully we’ve got them as it would be a problem if we didn’t, especially with Lee Collins out with a minor hamstring strain as well.

“I thought Kyle was excellent to come into the heat of the battle with how tough that game was going to be.

“People forget the boy (Jamie) Proctor up front on loan from Bolton, he is a real handful, He is a talent. I’ve tried to sign him a couple of times.

“But I think Kyle and Benno (Rhys Bennett) took the awards as they nullified their front two and that gives you a great chance to go forward and beat what I still say is a talented Carlisle team.”