Fleetwood boss Simon Grayson could make more changes for Lincoln and says players must be ready

Grayson’s squad come up against a Lincoln side currently sitting second in League One and with manager Michael Appleton having recently signed a new long-term contract.

Town’s selection options have been depleted through injury and illness of late.

Although Grayson is hopeful he’ll have a few more bodies available, he insists players will get a chance to prove themselves and must be ready when the time comes.

The head coach said: “Hopefully Barrie (McKay, above) and Paddy (Madden) will be available. They were back in training on Monday after Covid.

“Sam Finley is making good progress from a groin strain and hopefully we’ve got a few more options.

“Players have done well against Accrington (in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw) and I might freshen it up just because it’s been a difficult schedule. Mark Duffy didn’t play (at the weekend) because he’s had some tough games.

“Harrison Holgate (left out against Stanley) has been very good for us recently but he’s made a couple of mistakes, and I thought it was the right time to give him a bit of a breather physically and mentally. It’s a squad game all the time. When players come in, they’ve got to do themselves justice.”

In Madden’s absence, Grayson handed a start to Ged Garner on Saturday.

However, he also saw Charlie Mulgrew leave the field early through injury and be replaced by Josh Morris, whose penalty was saved.

Grayson said: “Charlie Mulgrew has got a bit of an Achilles injury. With the pitch being a bit hard he was struggling a bit, so we moved Danny Andrew back there and brought Josh on.

“I thought there were some good performances from the players that have come into the team.

“We freshened it up with young Ged Garner making his full debut. I said to the players when I first came to the club, ‘You might not be in the 18 but be prepared because you might get a start at any time’.

“When I named the team on Friday, there were probably some raised eyebrows but he’s impressed in training sessions and U23s games that I’ve seen him in.

“I thought he worked extremely hard and showed some good quality at times. He’ll have enjoyed it and hopefully, somewhere down the line, there will be a goal for him.”

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