Lincoln City have no fresh injury worries ahead of the Championship opener against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Tom Bayliss and Sonny Bradley both missed last week’s win against Derby County, but there are no fresh concerns. City made a raft of late substitutions against the Rams, protecting a 1-0 lead, but none seemed injury-related.
Head coach Tom Shaw confirmed that the side have no fresh worries ahead of the trip, the Imps’ first to Middlesbrough since 1960.
“Everyone looks in good nick,” he said in today’s press conference,
“I thought physically we were brilliant at Derby. We knew that would be the acid test of physicality, going to a place like Derby and their quality of play.
“But we were stronger as the game went on, obviously the subs contributed to that. Physically, I thought we were great and everyone, fitness-wise, is in a good place.”
Sonny Bradley is the one fans might be concerned about. He was a vital cog at the end of last season, winning Player of the Season, but his injury is described as minor.
“(He has) a minor knee injury,” added Tom.
“A couple of weeks, he’ll be back on the grass. He’s desperate to get out there. Every time I see him coming out of the gym, he’s dripping with sweat, so he’s doing his hard work to be prepared for when he’s back on the grass.
“He won’t be too long, Sonny, and I thought the back line were brilliant. Obviously, everybody got introduced to Deji properly on Saturday and what he’s capable of.
“So Sonny will be back into what is a competitive department in our football club.”
Deji is likely to continue at centre-back alongside Tom Hamer, with club-record signing Andrei Coubis fighting for a spot in the back four as well. Once Sonny returns, competition for places in that area will be at an all-time high.
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