MIDFIELDER David Brown is hoping he can keep his spot even if the Reds do make a shock swoop for former player Ian Craney.
Manager John Coleman has not ruled out bringing Craney back to the club on loan after the 25-year-old has fallen out of favour with Swansea's new boss Roberto Martinez.
Craney was sold to the Swans for £150,000 in December last year but has not been in the 16-man squad for the last few games.
Coleman confirmed: "He is obviously one we would like back and it would be nice but circumstances may dictate otherwise.
"We are trying to bring people in on loan and we are always looking to strengthen everywhere but I know I have a squad here at the moment capable of equipping themselves well in this league."
Brown, 28, has battled to get his starting place in the Stanley side after being told to "be patient" by Coleman - and he won't give it up easily.
The former Manchester United trainee has been Stanley's goal hero in the past but has moved into a midfield role this season after signing a one-year contract in the summer.
"I came back here this season under different circumstances as I had just signed a new contract and I wanted to give it a good go and I was really positive," said Brown, who started the 4-1 win over Grimsby and last Saturday's 2-0 loss to Shrewsbury.
"I was positive last year but this was like a new start for me. I was disappointed early on when I wasn't playing, like anyone would be, as I felt I had had a good pre-season.
"I went to see the gaffer and he told me to be patient. I have been but now, hopefully, I can keep my place if I am playing well.
"I do enjoy the midfield role. When I played for Hull in League Two, five or six years ago, I played 30-odd games in midfield so it is nothing new to me.
"I like the challenge as you get more of the ball and are always facing forward."
Although not a striker, Brown will still be hoping to get off the mark for the season if he starts tomorrow against Mansfield who have conceded the most goals in League Two so far this season - 14.
But it promises to be a goal fest as Stanley, along with three other sides, have leaked the second most with 10.
Brown is hoping it is the Reds' hitmen that come out on top as they look to cut out the mistakes which have cost them points this season.
"We shot ourselves in the foot at Shrewsbury," admitted Brown, who has been in and out and of the side in his two years at the FES. "Away from home you need to be clever and, playing in the new stadium at New Meadow with 6,000 fans, we needed to keep it tight and keep them quiet, like we did at Wycombe, and grind out a result.
"But to go one-down within three minutes, then Jay Harris was sent off, then they got a penalty and the game is dead for the last 40 minutes. It is frustrating and it is self-inflicted problems - and the team as a whole has to take responsibility.
"We do need to win tomorrow as people do expect you to win at home but we are making it too easy for teams to score against us and, at the moment, making silly mistakes in a few different positions."
Paul Mullin and Andy Procter are the Reds' only league scorers so far in the new campaign with Stanley having two wins in their six league encounters and lying 18th in the table.
Striker Roscoe Dsane has scored in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and Brown is predicting big things from the former Aldershot man. "I think everyone wants to score goals and Roscoe has done well - he has added a new dimension and has had a couple of chances and a league goal will come soon," he added.
Coleman does have a few selection headaches for the home game with the Stags.
With Harris now suspended for three games, Paul Carden could make his Stanley debut while striker Lee McEvilly is back after a three match ban. New defender Sean Webb is battling for a starting berth after all three played in the goalless reserve encounter at Tranmere on Wednesday night.
Coleman fielded a strong back line with Graham Branch, Peter Cavanagh, Mark Roberts, Webb and Robbie Williams all getting a run out. "I was looking at one or two things as I know it will be a tough game against Mansfield," said Coleman.
"They have had a mixed bag of results like ourselves and they will be looking to get their season on the right track like we are.
"If we get our defence right, we are capable of scoring goals at home."
After the five bookings, one sending off and assistant manager Jimmy Bell being sent to the stands at Shrewsbury, the Reds will be hoping there is a difference when Premiership referee Alan Wiley officiates tomorrow.
- THE reserves are at Morecambe next Wednesday (ko 7pm)
