News

17/11/2008 - Stags boss McEwan agrees deal with striker

Billy McEwan is delighted he can keep Emile Sinclair for another month after watching the young hitman destroy Salisbury City.

The 20-year-old scored one and set up another to put the Stags on the road to their first victory in six matches.

Sinclair's month-long loan from Nottingham Forest was due to run out after Saturday's clash. But the player has agreed to stay and the Reds have extended his loan.

"Emile is coming on and it's nice to extend the loan and that he wants to stay for a longer period," said McEwan.

"It says a lot for Mansfield that they can entice players like him, Paddy Gamble and Adnan Ahmed to come to the club.

"Emile has come in when we have changed the system round a bit and gone with three strikers. The understanding is now coming that they have to defend at times and we saw that against Salisbury. We need people up there to run off Jason Lee and Mark Stallard, and Emile does that.

"At this level pace is a bonus and I always like to have players in my side like that.

"Emile still has a lot to learn and some of the things he does shows he is still a bit naïve but he is only young and you expect that. He is working his socks off when we haven't got the ball. We are grateful for his commitment."

After losing their previous league games to Woking and Wrexham, McEwan was pleased to see Mansfield back on winning form at Field Mill.

"We have not actually played that badly at home and the two we lost were down to a penalty and a defensive mistake. Results haven't come but the players have kept believing and kept their heads up," he said.

"The good thing is that the fans have come and seen us play some decent stuff, even though we know we are not the finished article by a long, long way. We are searching for the right recipe."