League One is already proving to be very challenging and competitive this season, with multiple clubs setting their sights on a top six finish.

Mansfield Town players have not kept quiet about their desire to push on from their tenth-place finish in May either. Many have already spoken about aiming to be in and around the play-offs and new signing Michael Smith in particular is passionate about the mission.

The striker spoke about his hunger for promotion challenges when he joined the club over the summer and he recently said the team have ‘set the bar high’ for themselves this season.

“We want to push up the table as much as we can and be in and around the play-offs and keep challenging,” Smith said after the Oxford United draw.

Former international striker turned pundit Clinton Morrison also believes Nigel Clough and Stags have what it takes to push for top six.

“Yeah, I do. They've started off a bit slow, and the results have been inconsistent, but I think he's signed well. They also had a big result on Tuesday, winning 3-0,” the Sky Sports star told Chad, via BetSelect.co.uk.

“No one is really running away with League One. I think it's wide open. I did have my favourites at the start of the season, but no one's running away with it. So I do think they've got a chance.”

Clough himself is also expecting an unpredictable challenge this season. After Stags had played a handful of games, he said he believes the league will stay tight throughout the course of campaign, with few points separating those fighting in and around the top bracket.

“I don’t think anybody will run away with it and I can’t tell you who’s going to be down the bottom either. So I think that’s what will make it the most interesting league again,” he said prior to their 2-2 draw with Burton Albion.

Morrison, who scored more than 100 goals for Crystal Palace, highlighted Mansfield Town’s new-look attack as a key asset for their mission this season.

Smith has officially found his groove in amber and blue and notched his fourth and fifth goals against AFC Wimbledon last time out. He now has six goal-scoring contributions in his last four League One appearances for Stags.

“I like Michael Smith, the big striker. He'll score goals. He scored goals in the Championship,” Morrison continued. “They've still got my mate David McGoldrick, who's a fantastic player, and everyone says he's too old. He's injured at the moment. But they've got a lot of good attacking players, they build from the back, and they're strong in all areas.

“I think they've got a really good chance of getting into the play-offs, because I don't think anyone's running away with it at this moment.”

Clinton Morrison also paid homage to Nigel Clough after setting a new record for most EFL games managed at Mansfield Town. You can read his comments in full here.