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Midfielder Jamie McDonnell is unapologetically old school.
His tough, courageous and courageous act has seen the Nottingham Forest youngster become an instant success on loan at League One side Mansfield Town this season.
It is this approach that earned the 21-year-old his first cap for Northern Ireland against Germany in September.
He explained to BBC East Midlands Today: “My family always said: ‘Just stick around.’ And this comes from that.”
In a week when ‘football dinosaurs’ and their place among ‘football fashionistas’ were being debated, McDonnell’s approach became popular.
Stags boss Nigel Clough certainly sees the Forest loanee as a rare find among the rich selection of Premier League academies.
“He’s a rebound, in that he likes to tackle and head,” he said.
“Academies these days don’t produce many players like that. They produce talented players with great technical skills sometimes, but it’s almost a forgotten art that you still have to win the ball back and you still have to tackle it and head it.
“I love his whole attitude towards playing football.”
When Clough’s description of McDonnell was relayed to the player, a grin spread across his face as he laughed appreciatively when asked if he took it as a compliment.
“This is the kind of game I like,” McDonnell said. “Call me a throwback, I don’t mind it.”
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