The New Season Beckons

Next is a series of articles in their original form and not all published on Give Me Football.

Welcome selection problems for Sutton ahead of first game.

Chris Sutton should have a virtually full squad to choose from for the season's opener at Don Valley Stadium, home (for the moment at least) of Rotherham United. Plenty of Imps fans are expected to make the relatively short trip to cast an eye over the new look team which should be blessed with considerably more pace than last season.

Surprisingly this is City's second shortest away trip following several teams' departure to pastures new and a good following should be assured if only because of the close proximity of a well known shopping centre and easy tram travel right to the gate. So the message to fans is; get your passes signed and support the Imps!

Adam Watts is a doubt with manager Sutton stating on several occasions that he does not know whether he will be sufficiently fit following rehabilitation after badly breaking his leg in an accidental challenge at Grimsby Town's Blundell Park. Daniel Hone is out on loan, perhaps puzzlingly in the eyes of some fans, so Sutton may have to make do and mend in this department with a very tough first outing in prospect against Rotherham's formidable strike force. The Millers have managed to retain the services of the prolific Adam Le Fondre.

A first league outing in Lincoln's colours is in prospect for goalkeeper Joe Anyon who will be well aware that he has a hard act to follow replacing last season's player of the year Rob Burch, City fans will wish him well, as we do for all the players old and new.

Midfield will present a selection conundrum for Sutton with the arrival of several new faces in this area of the team and with a resurgent Clark Keltie, fans will be wondering if there will be a place for captain Scott Kerr found himself out of favour following the new management teams arrival but battled his way back in to the side with typical industry.

Fans will also be interested to see if the new look strike force can deliver the goods, no doubt hoping that Drewe Broughton will be in the mood to inflict a little first day pain upon his former employers. Supporters are expecting to see some exciting wing play too this season and will be keen to see how Mustapha Carayol and Albert Jarrett not to mention Gavin McCallum slot into the team, provided of course they are selected.

This will be the first opportunity too for Imps followers to see Chris Suttons own team following the fairly comprehensive reshuffle over the summer. Having attended a question and answer session a few weeks ago it is apparent that the management team are anxious to recruit players that will excite the fans and hopefully this will result in increased attendances at Sincil Bank in the weeks to come as these have been on the slide recently having been built up to a respectable 5000 average a few seasons ago.

All in all then no reason not to be at the Don Valley Stadium at three o'clock this Saturday to see if City can break their duck at this venue which has traditionally offered very slim pickings.