Mansfield Town vs Tranmere Rovers preview - Duo could return to Stags party

Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2015 by PA

Mansfield hope to have Terry Hawkridge and Simon Heslop back for the visit of Tranmere.

Both players missed the defeat at Plymouth through illness but they trained on Monday and have a good chance of being back in the Stags squad.

Goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley (hamstring) was an injury absentee against Argyle at the weekend but he is expected to resume between the posts on Tuesday night, as Mansfield look for the win which would almost assure their place in League Two again next season.

Defender Ritchie Sutton hurt his hip in the warm-up at Plymouth and will be assessed but winger Junior Brown will definitely be involved after serving his four-match suspension.

Micky Adams is hopeful the virus which has swept through Tranmere's camp will not cost them any more players.

Everton loanee George Green, Adam Dugdale and Iain Hume all missed the loss to Southend, while influential midfielder Max Power played an hour despite spending time in hospital with illness just days before.

Hume had been due to start against the Shrimpers but was sent back on a train the morning of the game, with Adams now waiting to see if any of them can overcome their symptoms to aid their survival fight in the midlands.

Josh Thompson (concussion) and Cole Stockton (hernia) both started at the weekend while Matt Hill (Achilles) is back in training, leaving just Marcus Holness (knee) on the sidelines now.