Callum Cockerill-Mollett urged to take his Walsall chance

The defender has only played seven times this season, last featuring on January 16 and last starting on November 21.

He has had injury issues, however Clarke has also been unhappy with his previous displays and he has now challenged him to take his next chance.

When asked what he sees for Cockerill-Mollett between now and the end of the season, Clarke said: “I see minutes for him, we only have two left-backs now in Max (Melbourne) and Cockerill-Mollett.

“We have loads of games to fit in, in a short period of time. Callum is training hard and he needs to take his next opportunity, he’s well aware of that.

“His last couple of performances were not at the standard that I expect of Callum, he knows that. He understands that and he’ll be itching to prove, when he comes into the team, that he’ll take that chance.”

Meanwhile, Clarke still has his eyes on the play-offs this season.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, we’re a couple of wins away,” he added.

“We have to go into games confident. Mansfield was a tough game with tough conditions but we got a point and we try and build on that.

“We’re unbeaten in four, albeit three draws. It’s been frustrating the amount of draws we’ve had this season that could have easily gone the other way.

“There’s plenty of points to play for and we’re very optimistic of having a very good last half of the season.”

Today’s clash with Cheltenham has been moved to Tuesday because of a frozen pitch at the Banks’s Stadium.