Mansfield vs Morecambe - Mal Benning suspended for Morecambe's Boxing Day visit

Mansfield defender Mal Benning is suspended against Morecambe on Boxing Day.

Benning was sent off late on in the defeat at Exeter last weekend for two yellow-card offences and he will serve a one-match ban.

Fellow defender Kyle Howkins (hamstring) has returned to training over the last few days but it is unclear whether he will be fit enough to play a part.

George Taft (hamstring) and Corbin Shires (knee) are both recovering from operations and are not yet ready to return to action.

Morecambe have problems on and off the pitch, with manager Jim Bentley describing January as the biggest month in the club's history.

Aaron Wildig (calf) and top-scorer Cole Stockton (knee) will both be assessed after missing last weekend's defeat to Cheltenham.

Liam Wakefield, Rhys Turner and Peter Murphy were all forced off in the first half of that game after picking up knocks while Alex Kenyon starts a three-match ban following his sending off.

Alex Whitmore is also suspended as he serves the last of his four-game ban but Kevin Ellison and James Jennings are both available again.