Chris Cohen is relishing City’s second home game of the week as Southampton visit the ProAmpac Stadium on Saturday 5 September (12.30pm KO).
The Imps head into the fixture following a positive point against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, with the performance building on the club’s first Sky Bet Championship victory of the season away at Bolton Wanderers.
Another sell-out is expected at the ProAmpac Stadium, with Cohen excited by the opportunity to face another strong Championship side in front of the Imps faithful.
He said: “These are the types of games that we want to play.
“It’ll be another sell-out at the ProAmpac Stadium, I’m sure it will create an atmosphere that gives us an opportunity to put a performance in that the fans can be proud of.
“Our job is to try and make that happen.”
Mikkel Ladefoged made his first appearance for City against Blackburn Rovers, coming off the bench for the final 15 minutes, and Cohen was pleased with the glimpses shown by the Dane.
He added: “He’s got absolutely everything, physically and technically, to be a top, top player.
“I thought the 15 or 20 minutes that he got, we saw loads of glimpses of what’s possibly going to come from him.
“It’s going to take time with these players to become regular first-team players, but the job of us as a staff is to try and make that happen.”
City completed two additions on transfer deadline day, securing Dan Oyegoke on a four-year contract from Hellas Verona and Chieo Ogbene on loan from Premier League side Ipswich Town.
Oyegoke provides another option at right-back, with Cohen looking forward to helping the 23-year-old continue his development at the Imps.
He said: “Bringing Dan in was obviously a really important signing for us.
“He’s a really competitive player who was at the top level last year and a really impressive young man.
“He’s someone that we know we can develop as well and help him to grow as a player and a person.”
Ogbene, meanwhile, brings further experience and another attacking dimension to the squad with a wealth of Championship experience along with 30 Premier League appearances for Luton Town.
“Chieo will bring a wealth of experience,” Cohen explained.
“His reading of football as well, it’s not just the physicality that he brings.
“He brings a wealth of experience and some attributes that help the squad.”
With a number of new arrivals joining the squad during the summer, Cohen knows it will take time for each player to fully settle into City’s way of playing.
The Imps’ coaching staff will continue to work closely with the new additions, with an individual approach being taken to ensure each player is ready to contribute at the right time.
“It’s just so important that me and Tom make sure that we give these players the best chance when they do come onto the pitch,” he said.
“It’s going to be different for each and every one of them. It’s just making sure that we do what’s right individually whilst always looking at the bigger picture of what’s right for the team.”
