While Lincoln City tasted defeat in their Bristol Street Motors Trophy clash with Chesterfield, there were positives to take from the game.
Among them was the debut of recent signing Erik Ring, who made his first impression in Lincolnshire after joining from Swedish outfit AIK Stockholm.
Speaking about his debut, he said: “I have been waiting to make my debut, and I am happy I was able to get some minutes. Hopefully we can build on this… It’s a new system, a new position, and a new team. So, there is always some time to adapt.”
Ring is more conventionally a winger, who can play on both the left and the right, but is expected to play in a different role at the Imps.
The 22-year-old said: “The club see me as a wing back, but I haven’t played a lot at wing back before. I have mainly been a winger, so it’s a different place on the pitch to be, so I just have to adapt to the team. I am happy to be here, so I have to learn how the team plays and try to get better at playing wing-back.”
The Swedish youth international joined Lincoln City during the summer transfer window, but had to wait for his first taste of English football due to a slow work permit process.
However, Ring is now able to play for his new club, and is “excited” to get going.
He said: “It’s a good league with a team that is young, with a lot of ambition, so it was a great project. They finished high up the league last season, and they want to keep building on that. And, I want to play in a good league, and I think Lincoln are going in the right direction.
“I’m very excited, Lincoln showed me the project and I got really interested. I think I need some time to adapt, but I will try and do that as quick as possible, and hopefully I will have some good performances.”
Before he played 60 minutes on Tuesday night, Ring travelled with the squad for their hard-fought victory at Stevenage. He reflected on what he saw, and said: “It was some extreme, extreme football, with many long balls and duels. I have never seen something like that before, but I guess some teams play like that and I have to learn to play against them.”
Lincoln City will now have a weekend without a game due to international call-ups, before returning to face Peterborough United on Saturday, September 14.
Feature Image Credit: Graham Burrell