Mansfield Town v Hartlepool United: Michael Duckworth a doubt and Billy Paynter out

The right-back was stretchered off late on in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Leyton Orient at Victoria Park.

It seemed serious at the time though boss Ronnie Moore reported afterwards that it looked like just a bad case of cramp in his calf.

Moore will give head physio Ian Gallagher every chance to get Duckworth fit for the match at Field Mill, where the side will be looking for a third straight win for the first time since August.

The only definite absentee will be skipper Billy Paynter, who is struggling with an Achilles problem, which looks likely to rule him out for several weeks.

Moore though moved quickly to replace him by bringing in Mikael Mandron on loan from Sunderland.

“Billy will be a miss,” said Moore. “He is a miss because he’s a leader and he has seven goals, a big chunk of our goals.

“On Sunday we coped without him, but the sooner he is back the better.

“With two wingers putting balls into the box then all of a sudden we have the excitement of wingers doing the right job.

“Billy will be a big gutted he’s not going to be able to get on the end of crosses for a few weeks.

“Everyone else will be fine – we won’t be far off the same squad and subs we had last weekend.”