Jez George was pleased to see so many young players involved in Saturday’s pre-season game at Reading.
A young Imps side featured against the Royals at their Bearwood Park Training ground, with every player lining up for one half the game.
Director of football George said: “Eight out of the 22 who featured were youth team players which is all part of their learning experience. It’s an opportunity for them to see what the standard is, and while it’s obviously a different tempo to what we expect when the season starts it shows them the level needed.
“We’ve had the young pros in with the group at Bisham Abbey, and three or four scholars who have only just joined us - for them to be in the same team as Tom Hopper or Liam Bridcutt is a great experience for them.
Saturday’s game was a typical early pre-season affair, with the priority for both sides being to build up fitness ahead of the new campaign.
George added: “For those who played it was a good 45 minutes in their legs and part of the training week, and we didn’t pick up any injuries.
“Being away at Bisham Abbey gives the manager more time to work with the players and time to spend with the players outside the training sessions. There’s work done with players coming back from niggles so the medical staff can keep on top of them, we’ve been able to spend more quality time with the players.”
The Imps are back in action on Tuesday when they take on Nottingham Forest in another behind-closed-doors friendly at the Championship club’s training ground.
