Mansfield Town were dealt a massive blow on Saturday when it was revealed that striker Liam Hearn has been ruled out because of injury until at least the end of the year.

Hearn, signed in the summer after proving his fitness following injuries that led to him leaving Grimsby, will undergo a knee ligament operation in the next few days.

The striker, who scored within minutes of his Stags debut in pre-season, sustained the new injury at Sheffield United in the 2-1 Capital One Cup defeat on Wednesday.