The team has dropped for Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers this afternoon, and there are a few shocks.
Rather than a strong XI, as expected, the game features six trialists, only one of whom it feels m ight actually be fighting for a contract. Reports this week suggested we were chasing Mikel Miller’s signature: we’re not, but he is in the side to face Doncaster, alongside a handful of others.
Record signing Andrei Coubiș will play this afternoon, as will Josh Honohan, who fans saw for the first time earlier this week. Joe Gauci also got his first outing in City colours in midweek and he also plays.
The Imps line-up is Joe Gauci, Max Clark, Andrei Coubis, Adam Jackson, Marvin Johnson, Matt Smith, Mickel Miller, Oscar Thorn, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Josh Honohan and Evan Khouri. As supporters will know, a number of those are not Lincoln City players, and therefore, you’ll need a handy guide to the trialists.
Max Clark
Max Clark began his career with hometown club Hull City, joining their academy as a youngster before breaking into the first team during the 2017/18 season. Before that, he had picked up plenty of senior experience during two loan spells with Cambridge United, making 44 appearances in all competitions. His breakthrough campaign at Hull brought 30 appearances, but he turned down a new deal and made the unusual move to the Netherlands with Vitesse, where he played 57 times and also featured in Europa League qualifying.
Clark returned to Hull briefly in 2021 before spells with Fleetwood Town and Rochdale, then helped Stevenage win promotion from League Two during the 2022/23 season. He joined Gillingham that summer and went on to make more than 50 league appearances for the Kent club, scoring four times, before being released at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. The 30-year-old can play at left-back or in midfield and also represented England at under-16 and under-17 level earlier in his career.
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