Lincoln boss reveals training ground insight and injury latest

Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton has been impressed with the intensity of training this week and says there has been ‘an edge’ with the players desperate to be involved against Sunderland.

Sunderland head to Lincoln on Wednesday evening for the 6pm kick-off in the first leg of the League One play-off semifinal, with the second leg taking place at the Stadium of Light the following Saturday.

Ahead of the game, Appleton has revealed the latest on the injury front and given an insight into the mood within the Lincoln camp.

He said :“We’ ve got a reasonablyclean bill of health. You can tell it’s play-off time because everyone wants to be in the team. There’s just an edge, one or two tackles flying in. They look bright and sharp to be fair.

"None of them are going over the top but there’s definitely been a rise in the standard in the last couple of days.

“Players like Liam Bridcutt, they train how they play. But some players who are not renowned for doing that are chomping at the bit.”

And on the injury front, Apple ton revealed :“The only possible problem we might have is Joe Walsh.

“But I still think he’ ll be fine. He was little bit sore after training[ Wednesday] but has come in today feeling a bit better.

“As a precaution, we didn’t do anything with him and I’m sure he’ ll improve over the next 24-48 hours. We’ll then wrap him up in cotton wool to make sure he is ready come game time.

“He seems quite relaxed about it but, with the position we’re in at the moment, it would be a risk to keep him going [in training].”

*Sunderland legend Michael

Gray says Sunderland players will be fighting for their futures in the play-offs.

The majority of the Black Cats’ squad will be out of contract at the end of this season, placing more importance on winning promotion from League One.

“Every single player at that club at this present time is fighting for their future,” Gray told Sky Sports.

“The only exception is Luke

O’Nien, he is the only player in that current squad, I believe, that deserves to be part of Sunderland going forward.

“Why aren’t Sunderland running away with League One? We’re a massive club. If we don’t go up this time around, it’ll be a lot more difficult next season with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Rotherham coming down–it gets harder the longer you’re down there.”