Lincoln City goalkeeper Josh Vickers believes the Imps have improved dramatically since their relocation to the new Soper of Lincoln Elite Performance Centre. The 22-year-old spoke to press ahead of Saturday’s clash with Mansfield Town.
Danny Cowley’s side did not play last weekend as their fixture with Yeovil Town was cancelled due to international call ups for The Glovers.
Vickers discussed the team’s break with the media but was keen to get back to work at the Elite Performance Centre, praising the new training facilities: “You want a break but then you get bored, it was nice to get away and shut off from football for four days before we were back in on Monday. The facilities we have are top class and ever since we’ve moved in there we have seen a massive improvement.”
The Imps played an intra-squad friendly during their break from the SkyBet League Two fixtures and the former Arsenal youngster, was on the winning side in the game before explaining the benefits of a training match and after a visit from a sleep expert, he gave an insight into what positive effects it has had on the squad: “It was mainly to get the freshness back into the boys, otherwise it would have been two weeks without a game.
"For the boys who haven’t been playing it was good to replicate it as much as possible to an actual game, we had refs come in but it was a good run out.
“The sleep expert has come in and it is interesting. Everyone is different and we had time as a group to talk to him and then individually to discuss what is right and what we aren’t doing so well with our sleep.We looked at what happens when you sleep and it was really productive and enjoyable.”
City of course host David Flitcroft’s Mansfield Town this Saturday as they look to regain their top spot from MK Dons.
The Imps goalkeeper spoke about the pressure of playing in front of large away following before explaining how City have prepared for this weekend’s fixture: “You get used to it the older you get and the more you play, it is what it is. There is banter between fans and players but you have to shut it out and it’s just about concentrating on the game which is the main thing.
“We prepare throughout the week, we've watched them and try to replicate things in training by looking at their threats and weaknesses."