Some very good points raised in this thread. I think Mann adds a lot of value off our bench as utility, more than potentially any other player at the club can add, which goes against him as a starting 13. I also don’t know where you can start him at the current time, as he isn’t a winger.
I actually believe there are no real options banging down the door to replace Nighty, especially outside of Aitken who has two plays:
1) catch and run
2) catch, think about passing and then run.
At least Nighty has the experience there.
Lomax would be the obvious replacement.. but I feel the club are doing a similar thing with him as they did with Dufty last year - not rushing him in and letting him play against men for a season.
How many people were bagging the club and Mcgregor for not playing Dufty earlier last year, but we are seeing the benefits of that now, letting his body adjust.