Michael Appleton reviewed the injury situation ahead of the game versus Sunderland on Saturday.
You can discuss what Michael Appleton said earlier today HERE, as well as many other topics on our 100% Imps forum! We have also published a Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz, which can be found just below the summary. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
Sunderland: They have had a few issues in recent years having been relegated from The Premiership to League 1. However, over a 46 game season, MA expects them to be at least challenging for the play-offs, if not automatic promotion. Lee (Johnson) will feel very lucky to have an opportunity with the quality of squad available to him at this level.
“We’ve been very good out of possession, we’ve been very good defensively; throughout the team, not just the back 5. We defend from the front. Our press at times has been really good. We’re going to have to do it again to make life difficult”
MA will ensure his players are aware of the ability present within the Sunderland squad but will also highlight that Sunderland are in a difficult place currently.
Injury Update: “Again tomorrow I’ll be surprised if we fill the bench” Connor McGrandles is still struggling at the moment and Theo Archibald is still sore. Add those to Liam Bridcutt, Adam Jackson plus the West Brom lads and we are missing some players we could really do with.
Callum Morton has returned to West Brom post-op. to do the majority of his work and will return to Lincoln to complete the process. In reality, MA does not expect to see Callum available for selection until February at the earliest. However, if Imps are in anything like the position we are now then his return will be a massive boost.
On a positive note, MA took encouragement from the performances of the players that had stepped in recently. He saw that as a key area, massively important that players are able to do that in the circumstances. It is essential to have players that are both ready and fresh to come into the team.
The good form of some players created a couple of selection issues but not massively at this stage due to the overall injury situation. “If we can just get through this period and get as many healthy players back in the squad as possible then it really becomes a selection headache which all managers like”.
Writer: hulloutpost
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz below:
Michael Appleton: "It really becomes a selection headache which all managers like."https://t.co/vBBnDvrnDU#ImpsAsOne #SAFC #HawayTheLads pic.twitter.com/bfWZlLCr76
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln1) December 11, 2020
