Notts County vs Mansfield Town - Kevin Nolan to take charge of Notts County

Posted Friday, January 13, 2017 by PA

Kevin Nolan will be in charge of Notts County for the first time when local rivals Mansfield visit Meadow Lane.

The former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder, formerly manager at Leyton Orient, was named as John Sheridan's successor on Thursday and will look to halt a miserable club-record run of 10 straight league defeats which has left the Magpies just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

Nolan said he will take guidance as regards team selection from Alan Smith and Mark Crossley, who took charge at Morecambe last weekend, before making the final decision based on what he sees in training on Friday.

Since the 4-1 defeat at the Globe Arena, loan pair Aaron Collins and Vadaine Oliver have returned to their parent clubs.

Mansfield will be without central defender Kyle Howkins after he limped off in the Checkatrade Trophy win over Oldham in midweek.

However, the West Brom loan player looks set to be replaced in the back four by Hayden White after he joined the Stags on loan from Peterborough for the rest of the season. White is a right-back so Rhys Bennett will probably be moved into the centre to fill in for Howkins.

Recent signings Joel Byrom and Ben Whiteman come back into contention after being cup-tied against Oldham.

Stags boss Steve Evans hopes to make another signing in time for the short trip to Meadow Lane but it remains to be seen if that deal gets done in time.