Lincoln City are “better equipped” now than they were earlier in the season, according to manager David Holdsworth.
Speaking at a pre-match press call ahead of the match with Forest Green Rovers, he explained that the two recent postponements will “enable us to field a stronger side”.
He also praised the volunteers who have been helping remove snow from the pitch: “An awful lot of work has gone on behind the scenes. We must thank volunteers who came down and helped shift snow off the pitch.”
Holdsworth added: “I hope their contribution will enable us to play. We want the game to go ahead.”
Despite not being in action since January 12th, the Imps manager explained that the break has helped the club and that it has allowed players to return to full fitness.
January has seen the arrival of winger Jake Jones to their squad, on a youth loan from Walsall. Holdsworth described him as “a young man with a smile on his face and an eagerness about him” and praised parent club Walsall for helping.
He also praised his current group of players, saying: “When the squad has been depleted, they’ve worked as hard as they can. They’re a good bunch and they work very hard. I understand they will make errors but they must learn from them.”
When discussing opponents Forest Green, Holdsworth said that they have “a good squad” and has “a great deal of admiration for the manager”.
The match will be at home, but the Imps manager was keen to emphasise that the club had “picked up some good points on the road” and that “draws are good, wins are priceless”.
He added: “We’ve got to out there in a positive frame of mind. We’ve got so much positive football to play. We have the ability to put a run together.”
Holdsworth confirmed Mo Fofana would miss the match, as well as Robert Duffy.
The Imps manager confidently stated that despite being three points above the drop zone “safety doesn’t concern me” and “not one thought in my brain goes through that”.
Also speaking at the press call was midfielder Alan Power. He described the postponed games as “a welcome break from football” and said that the players “could do with a couple of weeks off”.
The Irishman added that the team have been doing other activities in the bad weather. “We went boxing, did a bit of five-a-side and had a bit of a workout. It was a bit of break which isn’t that bad,” he said.
Power joked that snow activities such as sledging and ice-skating are not allowed in his contract but said it was good for the team “to be all back together.”
Looking forward to the upcoming game against Forest Green, he added: “[We’ve] got to remain positive and pick up as many points as we can. We’ve had a break, we’re ready to go again.”
He continued: “The team had so many games over Christmas, they came in thick and fast. There’s a bit of fatigue on everyone’s part, we’re ready to put it right though.”
He finished by saying how new signings Chris Bush and Jake Jones had settled in “perfectly fine”.
The midfielder added: “I’m happy to play wherever I’m needed, I’ll hopefully still score goals for Lincoln.”
Lincoln City’s match with Forest Green on Saturday, January 26th will go ahead as planned.