Mansfield Town striker Danny Johnson says he’s aiming to prove he can ‘score goals here and work as hard as I can for the manager’ following his return to the club.

The 29-year-old netted 15 times in 30 appearances in the first-half of the season on loan at Walsall and is now looking to contribute to a successful finale to the 2022/23 campaign back at his parent club.

Danny played 45 minutes away at Bradford on Saturday, helping the Stags come from a goal down to draw late on at the University of Bradford Stadium.

Speaking to iFollow Stags in a news conference at RH Academy this morning, the frontman said: “We’ve got to all come together and get the results.

“I’ve got to fit back into the way that they’ve [the squad] been playing this season.

“[I want to] Get back in the team [and] prove that I can score goals here and work as hard as I can for the manager.”

The former Leyton Orient man says he’s settled well back into the group.

“It’s like I’ve never been away really,” he said.

“I’ve come back in, and the lads have been fine and I’ve just joined in training as usual.

“It’s been a good one [season] so far in my time at Walsall. I’ve really enjoyed playing and scoring goals.

“I’m glad it [the transfer window] is over and I can concentrate on my football now.”

The striker looked lively away at Bradford on Saturday – having a few half-chances to score his first Stags’ goal since bagging a hat-trick at home to Newcastle U21 in November 2021.

“I thought once we made the three subs [at three separate intervals], that I wasn’t sure if we could make another one, but when I got told I was going on I was delighted to get out there, show what I can do and run and work hard for the team.

“I could’ve had a few [goals] to be honest. There was a long throw-in and I’ve not quite got away from the defender. There was one that was cleared off the line and there was another chance that I could have probably got to.

“The ball is going to drop and I’m going to get there eventually.

“I was maybe half a yard off [scoring] but he’s [the Bradford defender] done brilliant to get that away. I don’t know how he’s got it.”

On his targets for the rest of the season, Danny said: “Get back in the team [and] get starting.

“I think I have put myself in good stead at the weekend with my performance and we’ll see where that goes.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a few more goals before the end of the season and [we’ll] get in the play-offs.

“Every year, a goalscorer wants to finish the season as top goalscorer and obviously being on loan at Walsall I wasn’t able to play two games against Mansfield, so I’ve missed out on two games.

“I have missed out on a few games at Walsall with games being called off [too].

“I know Mansfield have played more games [than Walsall this season]. I’m up against it really to catch them [other Sky Bet League Two scorers] back up now but I back myself.

“Hopefully I’ll be up there come the end of the season.”

On his relationship with boss Nigel Clough, the goalscorer said: “[It’s] Absolutely fine.

“Some people say ‘oh you’ve fallen out with him’ but if you look at it last year, everything was up against me.

“[My] Injury, the way the team were playing [with Danny out injured], you can’t do anything about that, that’s football some times.”