It is hardly the ideal preparation for a huge FA Cup tie when your player manager, and two other players are hospitalised in the build up.

Boss Michael Brothers suffered a punctured lung and cracked ribs after colliding with Clacton keeper Luke Avenal, ten minutes into the Imps' 2-1 win on Tuesday, while Aidan Carpenter and James Lee needed hospital treatment after getting banged up in the r reserves' home fixture Alresford Colne Rangers on Wednesday evening. Aidan first suffered a a double break in the same arm and James Lee later suffered concussion.

The Imps travel to Great Wakering Rovers this afternoon for their extra preliminary Emirates FA Cup tie, after winning through against Benfleet with a dramatic penalties shoot out, with a number of other injury concerns, including new signing Michael Shaikley, who faces a fitness test this morning.

The Imps will only have four subs, instead of the seven they are allowed, but Michael, speaking to Nub news from his hospital bed, is confident his team can rise to the challenge even without him in the manager's dug out today.

"It has not been ideal preparation but it makes things interring," he said. "It will be a test of the teams character but I have every confidence in them

"We have a number of young players who can go out there with no fear, even the more experienced lads are relatively young so we should play with a lot of energy.

"I have played at Great Wakering before so I know what it is like. It is not an easy place to go and we are the underdogs, so we now know what it is like to be that team that is not expected to win."

"For us at this level to be able to play in a national cub is huge. So you have to make the most of every opportunity."

Kieran Lawler and Craig Clarke will take charge today, with the experienced Ben Newson, Patrick Brothers and Jack Sibbons also there to help out.

Brothers is hoping new signing Shaikley will be fit after his international clearance came through on Monday.

Former Stanway and Maldon & Tiptree has been playing in USA for the past five years at Saginaw Valley State University, Flint City Bucks and AFC Ann Arbor.

The 24 year old said: "I'm very excited to get started and playing with the boys, we have quality both on the pitch and from the sideline so I expect us to be up there this year, I just can't wait to get going."

Brothers told the club website: " We are really pleased with the acquisition of Michael. Hes very confident in possession and will be looking forward to him unlocking defences. He will add a different dimension to our forward line, the Imps faithful will enjoy his style of play and he himself is confident he will add goals to us. This is something we know we have to improve on from last season for us to progress in the direction we want."