Crawley Town boss makes Tin Man comparison with former Cardiff City and Wolves defender - and calls him 'a different class'

Malone was replaced after 72 minutes on Tuesday night in the 1-1 draw with Barnet and appeared to limp off the pitch at the Broadfield Stadium.

It was his third start back after almost four months off with an injury he sustained in the reverse fixture against Saturday’s opponents.

Lindsey eased fears that Malone could be sidelined again but couldn’t resist a light-hearted jibe at the 34-year-old in his preview of Saturday’s game.

“I think rigor mortis has set in for Scotty,” he said. “He struggles after games, he really does. We have to put him in the fridge for a couple of days before we wheel him back out to train again.

“Scott’s been off for 14-15 weeks with an injury, added to the fact he’s nearly 35 years of age and the career that he’s had. His attitude around the place is different class, and we just love him. I think he’s done excellent in the games that he’s played.

“Sometimes we have to wrap him up in cotton wool a little bit in order for him to be able play in the next game, and that’s what we’ve been doing. He will give you everything during the game, and then he looks like The Tin Man the next day a little bit but that’s just where he’s at. But he’s very fit, he’s very strong, he can run and he gives you everything in the game, so he’ll be fine.”

The Reds are unbeaten since Malone’s return to the side having drawn all three games, with the defender bringing a sense of calm to the defence.

Lindsey said: “He’s been in that situation probably a million times. In the games that he’s played, [there has] been so many situations where he knows what the game needs at what moment, and that’s a real craft that he’s got.

“Knowing when to spin one down the side, chop back out, play it to the keeper, play inside the pitch, hit a big diagonal, make a forward run – he made a brilliant run against Colchester away, actually probably our best action where we were playing on the right-hand-side [and] he makes a forward run like (Josh) Flint used to do.

“He ends up getting a big diagonal ball I think from (Geraldo) Bajrami. He crosses it and then Dion Pereira has a header at the far post – probably our best action and it only comes from Scott having that willingness to run forward. He just knows what the game needs at what moment, and it’s just purely down to his experience.”

The trip to Highbury Stadium on Saturday is eight games from the end of the League Two season, with the Reds still hovering precariously above the relegation zone in 21st place.