Injury-ravaged Mansfield Town have signed centre-back Luke Waterfall on an emergency loan from Scunthorpe United until the New Year. He joins QPR defender Sendells-White at the Stags as injuries continue to plague manager Paul Cox’s squad.

The 24-year-old, who has spent time on loan at Macclesfield Town this season, is eligible to go straight into the Stags’ squad for tomorrow’s FA Cup first round tie at home to non-league Concord Rangers.

The 6ft 2in centre-back said: “I trained at Scunthorpe on Tuesday and then got a phone call in the evening saying that [the opportunity to join Mansfield] had come up, so it was a ‘no-brainer’ really.

“I’d like to think that I attack the ball well in both boxes and I’d say I’m a bit of an old-fashioned type centre-half.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, he added: “We’re expecting a tough game as they’ll be coming here trying to prove that they can play at this level.”

Born in Sheffield, Waterfall began his career in the youth set-up at Barnsley, but after not being offered a professional contract at Oakwell, he joined Tranmere Rovers for the 2008/09 campaign.

After a season-long stay at Prenton Park, the Yorkshireman moved to Ilkeston Town, where he was a regular in 2009/10, making 38 appearances and scoring two goals.

He then moved to Gainsborough Trinity and enjoyed three successful years at the Northolme Ground, during which time he built up a reputation for being composed, cool and calm under pressure, and helped the club reach the Conference North play-off final.

His eye-catching displays resulted in a transfer to Scunthorpe United in May 2013, and he made 10 appearances as the Iron won promotion from Sky Bet League Two last season.

Waterfall joins a squad missing several first team players, with central defenders Richie Sutton, Luke Jones, John Dempster and Ryan Tafazolli all injured.