Oscar Thorn was delighted to make his return to action as the Imps opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 victory at Boston United.
The winger made his first appearance following ankle surgery and admitted it was a relief to be back on the pitch with his team-mates.
He said: “It was my first game since November, so it was just good to get back out there, have a run-out and be back with the boys.
"Pace has always been the main part of my game - getting down the wing and putting crosses into the box. I was glad I was able to do that and show the fans what I can do.”
The injury was the first major setback of his career, but the 21-year-old believes it has helped him grow.
He said: “It was tough, but it was a learning curve for me. It was the first injury I’ve ever had in my career, so it was a completely new experience.
“I just had to find other ways to contribute to the team and support the lads from the sidelines. I’m really happy to be back on the grass now and playing again.”
With pre-season now well under way, Thorn’s immediate priority is to continue building his fitness.
He added: “We’ll see how pre-season goes, but at the moment my focus is just on staying fit and playing games. If I can do that, then anything is possible.
"It feels much the same as last year. Everyone’s buzzing around the place, everyone’s in good spirits and we’re training really well every day.
“We’re all looking forward to the season and I expect us to be really positive.”
