Tyler Walker’s commitment has been heralded at Mansfield Town after the striker bagged the only goal in a vital 1-0 win over Cambridge at Field Mill on Saturday.
That’s now 24 goals this season for the on-loan Nottingham Forest man, and Stags boss David Flitcroft believes Walker’s enthusiasm for the cause, right from the moment he moved from the City Ground to north Nottinghamshire, has played a pivotal role in his success.
“We have two songs for [CJ Hamilton], so I might make a song up for Tyler and sing it! He feels part of this and loved by us.
“He’s really committed to it. Sometimes, loan signings get questioned, but I look at Ryan Sweeney, who came in and we turned the deal permanent because of his performances.
“I remember when we spoke to Tyler, sometimes the parent club wants to keep the player for pre-season, but he wanted to join us for the training in Portugal.
“He says it’s the best preparation he’s had.
“Where he built his momentum and form is probably during those six weeks [in pre-season] that he spent with us, in terms of socially, certainly physically, and mentally.
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“Tyler is fully committed and he’s deserved those goals.”
Walker’s crucial strike just after the hour saw the Stags move second in League Two with just five games remaining, in a game which saw Jordan Smith and Jorge Grant fail to get off the bench, with Grant recovering from a minor injury.
Elsewhere in League Two, Alex Iacovitti scored after only six minutes to help Oldham Athletic to a 2-0 win away at Colchester United, just his second professional goal.
Adam Crookes produced another solid display for Port Vale in their 1-0 win over local rivals Crewe at Vale Park to edge further clear of trouble at the bottom of the division, but Toby Edser wasn’t involved.
At the top of League One, Jason Cummings salvaged a point for Luton Town four minutes from time to earn a 2-2 draw at Blackpool and extend their remarkable unbeaten run 28 games – that point extended the Hatters' lead at the top to eight points over Barnsley, who were beaten at Burton.
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Greek striker Apostolos Vellios wasn’t involved as his Belgian club Waasland-Beveren were thumped 5-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-offs on Saturday.
Gboly Ariyibi played 65 minutes in Motherwell’s 3-0 home defeat to Rangers on Sunday, but there was no place in the starting XI for Joe Worrall, with the Reds defender an unused substitute.
