Paul Cox hopes Ben Hutchinson can flourish at Mansfield

Hutchinson spent time on loan with Lincoln City last season

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox hopes former Celtic and Middlesbrough striker Ben Hutchinson can get his faltering career back on track at Field Mill.

Hutchinson has joined until the end of the season after leaving Kilmarnock.

"He shouldn't really be at Mansfield. He was playing in the Champions League three years ago against Manchester United," Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I think Ben will admit he has come a bit off the rails. Hopefully we can put him on the straight and narrow."

The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Middlesbrough and signed for Celtic in January 2008.

He came on as a substitute against the Red Devils in a Champions League match in November that year.

But Hutchinson failed to make the grade at Celtic Park and, after a series of loan moves, joined Kilmarnock last summer.

Cox added: "I think he was going through a bad time but we want to put him back on the rails and help him achieve what he wants to achieve.

"He is 24 years of age and Mansfield could have six years of a fabulous footballer."