Mansfield 'don't want to play' without McDonnell

Jamie McDonnell was an 88th-minute substitute for Northern Ireland in Germany

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough has voiced his relief at Jamie McDonnell's return after the international break - and says the midfielder's experience of debuting for Northern Ireland can help the club.

The Stags wanted their League One trip to Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday postponed because of international call-ups, although Clough suggested their attempt partly failed because Pakistan forward McKeal Abdullah and Dominican Republic goalkeeper Anthony Nunez have not played for Town this season.

"We did everything we could to get the game called off and thought we had a good case, but the EFL disagreed," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham, calling the 21-year-old a "huge miss" in the 2-0 defeat.

"We don't really want to play a game this season without Jamie McDonnell, if we can help it."

Nottingham Forest prospect McDonnell, 21, is on loan for the season and made his senior international bow in a 3-1 World Cup qualifier defeat in Germany last Sunday.

"I just said 'I hope you get on'," reflected Clough. "He said 'it will depend on the score'.

"If it had been 2-1 or something then it was unlikely but, at 3-1, it was a great opportunity to give a couple of youngsters their debuts.

"Hopefully, he's done well in training and enjoyed the experience. That's what he's looking to do in the next 10 years - to improve the level he's playing at, go beyond us, probably, into the Championship and eventually challenge in the Premier League with Forest.

"Having an international career alongside that will be very important for him. It all just helps [us].

"Can he maintain his level as he keeps moving up the pyramid? So far, he's shown no signs of not being able to do that."

Mansfield are 11th and host fourth-placed Stevenage on Saturday (15:00 BST).