HARROGATE Town boss John Reed has blasted Mansfield striker Craig Mitchell's 'poor attitude' during his loan stay at Wetherby Road.

Mitchell will not be available for tomorrow's home game with lowly Burscough after returning to Field Mill but he was unlikely to figure in Reed's plans anyway as the Harrogate manager substituted the Stags forward just 37 minutes after using him as a replacement for Glenn Naylor in last weekend's 2-1 win at Stalybridge Celtic.

Naylor has recovered from the injured cheekbone that precipitated Mitchell's early introduction and Town's top scorer will be fit to face a Burscough team, who last year made history by becoming the first Unibond League team to lift the FA Vase Trophy but have since sacked their manager and are now languishing second bottom in the premier division table.

About Mitchell, Reed said: "I was very disappointed with his attitude. He played very poorly for us.

"These guys are supposed to come here to work and when we had Clayton Donaldson, from Hull, he had a great attitude but I would not give this guy a house room.

"When we were under the cosh he would not shut people down and I brought him on after 26 minutes against Stalybridge but had to take him off after an hour which is the most embarrassing thing that can happen in football, especially to somebody like him who has played in the Football League.

"Everybody else wants to play in this team at the moment, even me and I'm 51 and have had a hip replacement.

"We have a great spirit but he did not talk to anybody and made it clear he did not want to be here but he's only 20 and a strong boy so he should have done better.

"I loaned Gary Bradshaw out to Goole but would have been better keeping him."

Robbie Whellans is back in tomorrow's squad for the first time since suffering a foot injury in August, leaving Scott Bonsall as the only player in the Harrogate treatment room.

Town, who are fourth in the premier division table, will be looking for revenge having lost to Burscough on the opening day of the season but the Trophy winners recently surprised title hopefuls Alfreton Town 4-1.

Updated: 12:02 Friday, November 07, 2003