Imps head coach Mark Kennedy is pleased with how pre-season is going, and provided an update on how the final friendlies will be used to prepare the players for the campaign ahead.
City recorded draws with Stockport County and King’s Lynn in the opening pre-season friendlies, before victories over Boston United and Harrogate Town.
Performances and building up fitness are far more important than results for Kennedy, and team selection is designed for peak performance when competitive games come around.
He said: “I’m pleased with pre-season, which is always a compromise between coaching and the medical & sports science needs - and as much about refining patterns of play as it is about the load programme.
“The training camp in Spain was a really good opportunity to do additional training sessions and the players are in really good shape. A number of players are recording personal bests within the first few weeks of returning to training, so great credit goes to the medical & sports science guys.
“As we get closer to the season we are still working on load and as a result the Crewe and Grimsby fixtures will see very different starting XIs with the purpose being to get the whole group into an optimal space for the season ahead.
“We won’t reveal exactly who plays in each of the next two games, but it will be load influenced and each game will be designed to benefit a different group of players with the aim being to be ready for the season ahead.”
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