Mansfield Town vs Cheltenham Town - Darius Henderson could make his Mansfield bow against Cheltenham

Posted Friday, August 12, 2016 by PA

Darius Henderson could be ready to make his Mansfield debut when Cheltenham visit the One Call Stadium.

The striker missed pre-season but has had a week in training with his new team-mates after signing for the Stags prior to the opening day match at Newport.

Defender Krystian Pearce and midfielder Jack Thomas have both missed the start of the campaign with respective knee and groin injuries and remain doubts.

Mansfield manager Adam Murray will not make many changes but Matt Green and Kevan Hurst could be recalled after dropping down to the bench for the EFL Cup defeat to Blackburn in midweek.

Injuries continue to bite for Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson, who again could have just 14 fit players to choose from.

Club captain Aaron Downes is still out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and the defender is joined on the sidelines by midfielders Jack Munns (knee), James Dayton (ankle) and Asa Hall (groin).

Kyle Storer also remains unavailable as he serves the second match of an eight-game suspension.

James Jennings, James Rowe and Jack Barthram could come into Johnson's thinking should he wish to make changes to his starting line up.