Stags' Briscoe hoping to 'sock' it to Luton

AS far as embarrassing injuries go, it was up there with Liam Lawrence tripping over his dog and Dave Beasant dropping a bottle of salad cream on his toe.

Like that pair, Louis Briscoe was sidelined not by a ferocious tackle out on the pitch, nor by an accident on the training ground.

No, the former Port Vale man had to sit out more than a month because he fell down the stairs.

As he now recounts the story of what happened, a smirk slowly spreads across his face.

But at the time, Briscoe knew it was no laughing matter because of the severity of his ailment.

"I was just washing my kit because we were off down to Eastbourne on the Saturday," he said.

"I dropped a sock on the stairs and as I bent down to pick it up, I slipped and fell most of the way down them.

"I hit my leg flush on the wall and hyper-extended my knee. It was quite serious, even though I didn't think it was too bad at first.

"I wasn't in too much pain and I hoped it might be two weeks, but it got worse and when Jason (Truscott, physio) had a proper look, it ended up being five.

"It was pretty gutting because I was speaking to Kyle Perry after we won 2-1 at Altrincham and both scored and was saying it would be great to get a run in the side and a few goals.

"I got quite a bit of stick from the lads when they found out what happened but then they realised it was quite bad.

"But Jason did a great job, not rushing me back and keeping my fitness up and now I'm hoping it will make me stronger."

Briscoe made a welcome return for the Stags a week ago as a second half substitute in the FA Cup first round tie with Forest Green Rovers.

And although he could not help Mansfield to victory as they lost 2-1, he impressed enough to earn a start in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Eastbourne Borough. Briscoe knows the onus is on him to start firing quickly now Kyle Perry (ten goals) and Jake Speight (six goals) are out injured.

He said: "First and foremost I am just glad to be back playing and I'm fortunate to have got back in the team as quickly as I have.

"The Forest Green game didn't go too well for the team as we went out of the cup but it was good on a personal level to get back in the fray.

"With Jake struggling with his knee and Kyle having a sore thigh, it is a blow for the team.

"But whether I play up front or on the right, the gaffer knows I can do a job for him."

After seven wins from their first nine home games, Mansfield have not won any of their last three at Field Mill.

Briscoe knows it is important the Stags rediscover their best form in front of their own fans against Luton Town tonight.

"Overall the season so far has been a good one at home and we have just had a couple or three difficult games," he said.

"Histon were strong and did well. Forest Green was a strange one in that we had so much possession and put so many balls into the box but could not make it tell. Against Eastbourne, we dominated the second half but couldn't break them down.

"I think this will be a more open game against Luton; they will come at us more.

"It's a massive game and will show us exactly where we are. The top five did break away at one point but now the likes of Rushden and York are breathing down our necks, so we need to win it."

Briscoe is under no illusions as to just how hard that task will be.

But he says the way Mansfield played when they became the first team this season to beat Oxford United shows they are more than capable.

Briscoe said: "In the Oxford game, Silky (Gary Silk) set us on our way with a big tackle – it got the fans and the players going,

"We were relentless in that first half and they couldn't live with us. If we can replicate that tonight, we will be fine."