Torquay Herald Express
Only Carlisle's Karl Hawley - he was helped by a hat-trick at Plainmoor in November - and Bristol Rovers' Richard Walker stand above Richie Barker in the League Two goalscoring charts.
Nineteen goals in all competitions this season is good going by any standards, especially for a side in the bottom half of the table, and Barker has also hit four in his last three games. Mansfield Town manager Peter Shirtliff now hopes that he may just have found the man to form a deadly duo with former Brighton, Macclesfield and Rotherham targetman Barker.
The new boy on the Field Mill block is Danny Reet.
Just 19 and signed in the January transfer window from Sheffield Wednesday, six-footer Reet hit four goals in six games on loan at Bury before he switched to Mansfield for a nominal fee. He's already scored a couple of goals for the Stags.
It's been an in-and-out season for Town. The highlights have been a League Cup defeat of Southampton and an FA Cup run which ended with a brave Third Round defeat (0-1) at Newcastle.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley defender Shirtliff took over from Carlton Palmer in September. Palmer had held a summer rebuild, and things are only just beginning to settle down after a season in transition.
Things still aren't right at the back, where centre-half Rhys Day is sidelined after a hernia op. Norwegian ex-Forest stopper Jon-Olav Hjelde and Jake Buxton currently form a muscular pair in front of veteran Kevin Pressman.
Regular full-back Gareth Jellyman is currently suspended, along with midfielder Giles Coke.
But Shirtliff can still call on the experience of 35-year-old Dutchman Gus Uhlenbeek, whose career has taken in spells with Ipswich, Fulham, Sheffield United, Bradford City, Chesterfield and Wycombe.
Alex Baptiste is a pacy defender, a survivor of the team which reached the Play-Offs under Keith Curle two years ago.
And in midfield are former Arsenal starlet Adam Birchall, ex-Darlington and Carlisle man Adam Rundle and former Manchester City youngster Jonathon D'Laryea, no relation to Ghanaian striker Benny Laryea who flitted briefly across the Plainmoor scene under Dave Webb in the mid-80s.
Midfielders Chris Beardsley (broken leg) and Allan Russell (broken toe) are long-term casualties.
But one potential match-winner is pacy but inconsistent striker Simon Brown, who hit ten goals alongside Barker before injury interrupted his season before Christmas.
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wwwthisisnottingham.co.uk
HITMAN BROWN AIMS TO SHOOT DOWN GULLS
Nottingham Evening Post
Simon Brown wants to go out with a bang at Torquay tomorrow in his last game before an operation that could end his season.
The livewire striker goes under the surgeon's knife next Thursday in for help with a hernia injury.
Assistant manager Paul Holland hopes the ex-West Brom man could be back within three weeks so he can play a big part in the crucial run-in to the end of the season.
But if the 22-year-old's recovery does not go so well, he could miss six weeks or more - and that would all but end his campaign.
Brown is determined to put on a show at Plainmoor and help ease the Stags' relegation worries.
"It's been very frustrating pulling my hamstring and then coming back only to struggle with this hernia - it's been a very stop-start season for me," he said.
"When I first got injured Richie (Barker) and I were working really well together and the team was playing well so it's been hard to have to watch from the sidelines.
"I was pleased with how things went when I came on against Wrexham and if I can make an impact against Torquay too, I will be pleased."
Mansfield had hoped to coax Brown through until the end of the season with rest and treatment in between matches.
But it has quickly become apparent that an operation is the best solution.
"I've been taking anti-inflammatories before and after games and it's been really sore after matches," said Brown.
"Now I'm booked in for the operation I hope to get it sorted and come back as soon as possible. Hopefully I can get some games before the end of the season."
Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff is hoping they can extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
He said: "It's been an ok February because we have stayed unbeaten, but even after we lost against Chester and Darlington, I don't think it was the crisis some people were making it out to be."
Gareth Jelleyman and Giles Coke are suspended but
Laurence Wilson is expected to travel after shrugging of a knock on his shin, as is Alex John-Baptiste who has been struggling with a groin injury.
But Adam Birchall is doubtful with an ankle injury.