Ahead of the Port Vale fixture Mark Kennedy was adamant there would be no complacency setting in as the season end drew nigh and he had some words concerning the Imp’s player of the season candidates.
You can discuss what Mark Kennedy has said ahead of this match HERE, as well as get involved with our Lincoln City v Port Vale Match Thread.
Port Vale: Teddy Bishop is still injured with a hamstring problem that whilst relatively minor will require a more conservative approach due to his history of similar injuries. TJ Eyoma is available.
MK is very keen to give Dylan Duffy some game time. He has looked very impressive in training and whilst the context of recent games hasn’t enabled that, MK is very mindful of doing so. With the season drawing to a close MK will still follow the same policy so far as injured players go. If there is a red flag from the sports/medical team then as always the injured individual will not play. Otherwise, if players want to play then they will be considered for selection as normal.
Complacency: Notwithstanding MK does not foresee complacency being an issue having worked with the ‘group’ all year; he would not and could not allow that to happen. It is not something he sees in the culture that is evident at Lincoln. Likewise, he expects opponents to have the same professional ethics as him so he shouldn’t and does not expect to see that from them either.
“They’re not footballers, they’re professional footballers. You look at the title that’s on our training ground, it’s elite. It’s about showing an elite mentality 24/7”.
MK remains very much focussed on finishing as high in the league as possible. Some people have commented about being careful how high the team finishes as that has to be followed on the next season. MK finds that bizarre as he is driven to achieve.
Player of the Season Award: MK had no intention of inadvertently influencing the choices of the fans but did comment on the ‘field’.
“I think we’ve had some outstanding performances over the course of the year. Normally there’s two or three…..if you mentioned five or six players I’d go, ‘I can’t argue with any of them’. I think that’s a credit to the group. I think they’ve all been collectively impressive this year”.
Writer: hulloutpost
MK: "I think they've all been collectively impressive this year."https://t.co/BwLuOW5n90#ImpsAsOne #WeAreImps #PVFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) April 15, 2023
