Lincoln City manager Chris Sutton has snapped up 25-year-old winger Michael Gordon from Ryman League side Merstham.
Speaking to the press ahead of Saturday’s League Two clash with managerless Cheltenham Town, the Lincoln chief declared the newest addition to his squad is available for selection for the Imps’ clash at Sincil Bank.
Former Arsenal trainee Gordon, already nicknamed “Flash” by his City teammates, penned a deal on Wednesday until the end of the season, and Sutton is hoping the right-footed forward can prove himself in the football league once more after spells at non-league sides.
“If I feel he can come in and do a job straight away I’ll have no hesitation in picking him,” Sutton said.
“It’s plain to see that there are certain areas on the pitch where we are short of players and certainly the right side of midfield is one of them.
“He is an out and out right-winger so he knows the game and I’m confident he’ll add a lot to us.
“[Gordon] has been out of league football for a while. Players do come into the game late for whatever reason, Ian Wright is one example.
“But there is not a great gap in standard between League Two and the Conference, I don’t think it’s a massive step up and from what he’s shown he’s a decent player.”
City face lowly Cheltenham at Sincil Bank on Saturday, fresh from their 3-1 win over AFC Telford in the FA Cup first round last week, and Sutton is more than aware that clinching three points is paramount to avoid slipping closer the the relegation zone, despite the Imps being only nine points from the play-off places.
“We have to be realistic as to where we are in the league. Am I thinking of the play-offs? Probably not.
“I’m just thinking game by game and if we can pick up points and wins then we can assess things as we go. But I’m looking behind at the league table at the moment, not upwards,” Sutton added.
Former Lincoln City boss John Schofield takes temporary charge for the visitors on Saturday as manager Martin Allen remains on gardening leave.
Sutton can once again call upon loan midfielder Anthony Pulis, as his loan deal from League One side Southampton was extended until January. Loan signings Adam Watts and Nathan Baker are back after being unavailable for last weekend’s FA Cup tie, but Paul Connor remains sidelined through injury and Paul Green is not yet match fit after a long injury lay off.