Pulis preparing to face old side

INJURIES, illness and suspension could rob Lincoln City of almost their entire left-hand side for tomorrow's crunch League Two relegation derby clash against Grimsby Town.

Manager Chris Sutton faces the biggest test of his fledgling managerial career with Eric Lichaj suspended for one more game, Aaron Brown unavailable for three matches following his dismissal against Cheltenham last weekend, loan star Sergio Torres out with an ankle injury sustained in the same game and Joe Heath a doubt through illness.

One man sure to be involved, however, is former Town loan midfielder Anthony Pulis who is looking forward to facing his old side at Sincil Bank.

Pulis, who played nine times for the Mariners in 2006/7, said: "Alan Buckley was the manager at the time and he gave me the opportunity to play games and I enjoyed it.

"He'd only just taken over and brought in a few new players. We managed to turn it around and get some recent results.

"The lads were good, the fans were decent. Back then, we were actually in the similar situation to what we (Lincoln) are in at the moment.

"Unfortunately I ended up picking up an injury and had to go back to Stoke.

"It was good playing under Buckley, he was a very experienced manager, if a bit old school.

"He wanted us to play total football, which is good for midfield players.

"Overall, it was a good little club, it was well run, everyone got on, it was tight knit and the staff and everyone behind the scenes were nice. I can't grumble about my time there at all."

Like during his brief stint at Blundell Park, the Mariners are once again embroiled in a relegation battle.

So would Pulis like to see his former club beat the drop this season?

The 25-year-old replied: "Yes, I would like them to stay up, but not at the expense of us.

"I'll approach this game the same way I approach every game, but everyone knows, at the back of their minds, that this one is a bit bigger.

"There is a lot of local pride at stake. If you're not up for these games, you shouldn't be a professional footballer.

"With that in mind, they'll definitely be up for the game. That's always the case when teams lose their manager, it tends to give them a kick up the backside.

"They'll be knowing there is an appointment around the corner and that the manager will be at the game or have people watching it for him."

Meanwhile Imps boss Sutton is determined not to let a raft of injuries, that could amount to 11 absentees, affect the mood of his patched-up side ahead of tomorrow's derby clash.

And he wants the fans to rise to the occasion and forget last season's 5-1 drubbing in Cleethorpes.

He added: "It hasn't been ideal, but we've just got to get on with it. It happens to other sides, too.

"It's an opportunity for other players to come in and show what they can do. If they do well, they will keep the jersey.

"We had a particularly bad result against them last season (a 5-1 defeat at Blundell Park), which I've been reminded of.

"But this is a new season, it's a new game. With the position we're in and with injury and suspension, we need the fans more than ever.

"The game is very important to the fans and myself and the players are well aware of that."