Lincoln City’s new faces look to impress against Scunthorpe United

Lincoln City are yet to record a victory during pre-season following a highly successful League One campaign that ended in disappointment, losing to Blackpool in the League One play-off final.

Having gone down to a solitary goal defeat to Reading at the Madejski Stadium, Lincoln followed that up with an eyebrow-raising 5-0 defeat to Boston United. Defeat once more to a Norwich City side (1-0) will have been another useful workout, but with fitness building, eyes will be on improved performances and on new faces that have recently been welcomed to Sincil Bank.

It’s been a mixed summer of news for Imps supporters who were sad to say goodbye to many loan players that had such an impact in an otherwise highly successful season. Brennan Johnson has returned to Nottingham Forest following an impressive 12 goals and ten assists from the left side of the attack. Johnson has already made an impression at his parent club during pre-season, grabbing both goals in their 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandre on Saturday.

For the Imps, Johnson’s loss, in particular, will be of significance and additionally, influential midfielder Jorge Grant, who re-established his career at Lincoln, will be a major blow. Having finished the season as joint top goalscorer with 17 goals (ten assists), Grant has earned himself a move back to Championship level, joining Darren Ferguson’s newly-promoted Peterborough United for a six-figure sum.

Morgan Rogers, who joined on loan from Manchester City in January as a possible replacement for Johnson (touted to return to Forest), has also returned to the Etihad and is rumoured to have been the subject of an £8m bid from Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Add into that the departures of goalkeeper Alex Palmer (loan from West Brom) and versatile defender TJ Eyoma (Tottenham); Lincoln have had to be busy in the transfer window to try and build upon last season’s feats.

Pulling on Michael Appleton’s growing reputation as a coach to nurture younger talent, the Imps have once more pulled on the loan market, bringing in players from Manchester City, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion. 19-year old Scottish midfielder Lewis Fiorini has arrived on a season-long loan from Manchester City following a successful season at NAC Breda in the second tier of Dutch football.

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— Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) July 26, 2021

Experienced Chris Maguire has been reunited with boss Michael Appleton having fallen out of favour with Lee Johnson at Sunderland, and 21-year old Daniel N’Lundulu has been drafted in on loan from Premier League Southampton to provide greater competition and support for Tom Hopper up front.

The addition of N’Lundulu could be key as without Hopper in the final third of the season through injury; Lincoln were at risk of missing out on the play-offs without their key striker.

19-year-old Josh Griffiths arrives on loan from West Bromwich Albion, following his title-winning season-long loan at Cheltenham Town. Griffiths made 50 appearances for the Robins in League Two and now looks to further his development in the third tier of English football.

Lasse Sorensen has also joined from Stoke City. The 21-year old Danish midfielder spent last season on loan at MK Dons, making 34 appearances, and he will be looking to re-establish his career, having found a permanent home.

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— Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) July 26, 2021

With the squad picture looking healthier following the new arrivals, more welcoming news has been received on Monday as Appleton returned to the training ground following his recent operation to remove a tumour for testicular cancer.

Tuesday night’s trip to Glanford Park, as they take on Neil Cox’s Scunthorpe United, will provide further opportunity for Lincoln’s new-look squad to get more minutes under their belt as they prepare for their season opener at Gillingham on August 7th.