Archived News from August 2014
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CLUCAS BACK FOR WALSALL GAME / HEARN INTERVIEW
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Clucas to return for Walsall game
mansfieldtown.net, 31st July 2014 Mansfield Town winger Sam Clucas is to return to action this weekend at home to Walsall, manager Paul Cox confirmed today. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/clucas-to-return-for-walsall-game-1796019.aspx#wUQFKsgDbHtJcMcJ.99 The 23-year-old, who was Stags' top scorer last season with 13 goals, will return to the squad after picking up an ankle injury during our friendly match against Aston Villa a fortnight ago. The game may come to soon for defender Luke Jones though, who is suffering with an Achilles injury. Speaking to mansfieldtown.net this afternoon, manager Paul Cox said: "Obviously we want to get as much as possible from this game , as well as extra fitness. "The lads seem to be gelling well and we will look to continue our development from previous games." The match against Walsall will kick off at 3pm. It will be the penultimate friendly for Cox's side, who will face an un-named Championship club in a behind-closed-doors match early next week. Buy tickets for the match against Walsall by clicking here ------------------- Mansfield Town’s Liam Hearn ready to bounce back after two years of injury chad.co.uk, by Stephen Thirkill, 01/08/2014 Mansfield Town striker Liam Hearn says he has a deeper love for football after spending the best part of two years on the treatment table. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-s-liam-hearn-ready-to-bounce-back-after-two-years-of-injury-1-6764015 The former Alfreton Town hitman has suffered an injury nightmare ever since he ruptured his achilles during a training session while playing for Grimsby Town in August 2012. Hearn, who was Grimsby’s topscorer during the 2011/12 season with 29 goals, was then hit with another major setback when he injured cruciate ligaments during a match against Barnet in November 2013. “The Barnet injury was very painful, but it was just one of those things,” said Hearn. “I came on as a sub and scored to make it comfortable for us. “I had the ball at the end of the game and could have taken a defender on, but I didn’t and, as I shielded the ball, I felt my cruciate ligaments go. “The injuries have been a real nightmare and I’ve been through a lot emotionally over the last two years. “I am happy with how the injuries have healed and feel that I am going from strength to strength. “I have not felt any twinges or any pain in pre-season and I feel like it is all behind me now. “Things have gone well for me during pre-season and I am happy with my fitness levels. The weight is starting to come off and I am feeling good mentally. “I am feeling the physical effects, pre-season has been tiring so far. It is the same for all players, that is what pre-season is about. “I am where I want to be at this stage in terms of game time. I am probably much further ahead than I should actually be though and that is great credit to the physio team I have around me. And the determined goal-getter, who bagged 65 goals in 94 games for Alfreton Town, said quitting the sport he loves was never an option. “It has been a long road back, but I never thought that the injuries would end my career,” added Hearn. “I am tough mentally and the people I have grown up with, and the background I am from, would not have let me give up my Football League dream over an injury. “Too many people throw away their dreams too easily, but that was never going to happen to me. “It has been a tough two years and watching football from the stands or on the TV was hard for me to experience. It was tough in the first year, but the second year was an even harder experience. “Being out of football for so long has taught me to appreciate football and enjoy it more. I just want to play football for Mansfield Town now and to pay the boss back for having the faith in me. “I am not setting myself any goal targets or anything like that, I just want to score goals and to play as many games as possible, “I hope to start against Northampton and then kick on from there.” Hearn came off the bench to score two goals during his Stags debut against Leeds United, before completing another 30 minutes against Grimsby Town. ---------------------- Liam Hearn vows to repay faith of Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox chad.co.uk, by Stephen Thirkill, 01/08/2014 Striker Liam Hearn says he wants to hit the goal trail to repay the faith of Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/liam-hearn-vows-to-repay-faith-of-mansfield-town-boss-paul-cox-1-6764438 Cox signed his former Eastwood Town star in June in a bid to solve the goalscoring problems which plagued Stags’ last season. Hearn has already become an instant hit with the Field Mill faithful after bagging a memorable brace on his debut against Leeds United. And Hearn says he can’t wait to start the new League Two campaign and pay back Cox for giving him the chance to finally put his two-year injury nightmare firmly behind him. “I heard the rumours that Mansfield Town were interested in me last season,” said Hearn. “I have always kept in touch with the boss and when I knew the club were after me I knew it was a club I wanted to join. “I am born and bred in Nottingham and all my family live here so it is great to be back playing for a local club and even better that it is one in League Two. “It means that my friends and family will be able to come and watch me play and that is important to me. “The boss is a man who knows how to pick the right player for the right role, he has made a career on that and this squad is the best I have ever played with. “Hopefully we can all pull together to get the results. I think we have got the ability to surprise quite a few teams in this division. “I am not setting myself any targets. I just want to play as many games as I can and score as many as I can. I want to do it for myself and the boss. “Scoring some goals along the way in pre-season has already helped my confidence levels. “Confidence is a big part of football and the more I can score and the more I can play then the better for my confidence.”” After a handful of substitute appearances during pre-season it may be unlikely that Hearn will start the season opener at Northampton. But Hearn, who hit a superb 29 goals for Grimsby during the 2011/12 campaign, says he is confident the goals will flow once he gets his chance. “It is difficult to say if I will start against Northampton because the other strikers have done well so far,” added Hearn. “We have got power in Rhead and Palmer and goals in Fisher so there is plenty of options and competition for places. “If you do not start you will get a chance eventually and have to take it when it comes. “Whether I start or not at Northampton is a decision for the boss. If I do start then for me it is going to be a major achievement for me after what I have been through. “If I do start then I hope to kick on from that as the season progresses. I am just going to see how it goes and to keep working hard. “I believe that scoring goals is something that comes naturally to me, I have scored at every club I have been at. “If the goals take a bit of time to come at Mansfield then I will just stay patient and keep working hard. Hearn had his Grimsby contract cancelled by mutual consent after he asked to leave the club following a series of injuries that meant he made only 15 appearances during the 2013/14 season. Mansfield Town scored just 49 goals in League Two last season and will be looking for a big improvement this time around. --------------------- Replacing Matt Green is not on the agenda says Mansfield Town striker Liam Hearn. chad.co.uk, by Stephen Thirkill, 01/08/2014 Liam Hearn says he feels no pressure to replace the goals of Matt Green at Mansfield Town. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/replacing-matt-green-is-not-on-the-agenda-says-mansfield-town-striker-liam-hearn-1-6764999 The former Grimsby striker was signed by Paul Cox in June to bring a halt to Stags’ goalscoring woes, which began following Green’s departure to Birmingham City. The impressive Green banged in a brilliant 54 goals in 87 appearances to fire Mansfield to the Blue Square Premier title two seasons ago. But Hearn, who has scored more than 100 career goals so far, says replacing the former fans’ favourite is not on his agenda. “Matt Green is a very well respected player at Mansfield Town,” said Hearn. “He did what he did when the club got promoted and I have to show what I can do at this club and do what I do best. “We are two different people and two different players. I am not setting myself any goal targets or anything like that. “I am happy to be at Mansfield and just want to score goals and play as many games as possible. “I believe that scoring goals is something that comes naturally to me, I have scored at every club I have been at. “If it takes time for the goals to come at Mansfield then I will just stay patient and keep working hard, but I am confident that the goals will come. “The fans have been fantastic since I joined the club. I am a positive person and they have been really positive, which has given me a great confidence boost. Hearn has battled back from the best part of two years on the sideline after recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon injury and damage to cruciate ligaments in his left knee while playing for Grimsby. He began training with Stags in March as he looks to get his injury-hit career back on track and has played in three of Mansfield Town’s pre-season encounters. Mansfield kick-off their League Two campaign on Saturday away to Northampton. ------------------ |
Latest | August 2014