Burton Albion FC vs Mansfield Town preview - Defender added to Albion squad

Posted Friday, January 09, 2015 by PA

Stefan Maletic could be included in the Burton squad that faces Mansfield at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.

Maletic joined Albion this week from Dutch club Achilles '29, following a trial period, and his arrival boosts the defensive options of boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who remains without the injured Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

Cansdell-Sherriff pulled a calf against Tranmere on Boxing Day and he is facing a longer than expected spell on the sidelines after scans revealed a slight tear in the muscle. The centre-half could be out for around a month.

Hasselbaink will once again check on the fitness of Lucas Akins, who has been absent for the past five weeks with a niggling ankle problem.

Mansfield manager Adam Murray has been busy in the transfer market this week and he will pick his starting line up from a much-changed group of players.

Four changes are necessary to the side that began the Stags last game at Bury on December 28. Dimitar Evtimov (Nottingham Forest) , Luke Waterfall (Scunthorpe) and Kieron Freeman (Derby) have returned to their parent clubs after loan spells, while Rakish Bingham has been loaned to Hartlepool for the rest of the season.

Ollie Palmer, on the bench against the Shakers, has been loaned to Grimsby in a fifth departure from the One Call Stadium, while Murray has brought in three new signings. Former Burton striker Billy Kee (Scunthorpe) and Callum Elder (Leicester) have arrived on loan while Ricky Ravenhill has signed s short-term contract, following his release from Northampton.

Elsewhere, defender Ryan Tafazolli is available again after a one-match suspension but winger Rob Taylor will complete his three-game ban. John Dempster and Alex Fisher remain out injured.