Young Mansfield Town midfielder Jack Thomas has been urged by assistant boss Paul Raynor to show what he can do and force his way back into the first team squad.

The 20-year-old made an immediate impact in his first few games a couple of years ago but only made two starts last season before going out on loan to join former manager Paul Cox at National League side Barrow.

Thomas was named on boss Steve Evans' retained list last week and Raynor says he has deserved it.

Raynor told Mansfield 103.2: "He still had another year on his contract anyway so he was in the door.

"We sent him out on loan to Barrow to get some games in as we felt he wasn't going to play week in, week out.

"And, he's shown us enough in those and in training to see that there is something there.

"We've had a long chat with Jack in terms of how he needs to come back and that focus has really got to be there and he needs to be an active part of our first team squad before the transfer window closes.

"We see potential but we now need to see that coming to fruition and he needs to show this in the early part of the season and in pre-season."

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