Lincoln City midfielder Jake Hesketh has opened up about the impact that the change in managerial situation at the club has had, and has also outlined his target to force his way into the Imps' starting line-up and start to add goals to the team.

Hesketh arrived at Sincil Bank on loan from Premier League Southampton during the summer, after impressing whilst on loan with MK Dons last campaign in League Two, but the midfielder has suffered injury troubles so far this season which has limited him to just three appearances in the league for Imps so far.

Having impressed Danny Cowley with his performances for MK Dons last season, Lincoln made the move to sign Hesketh in the summer, but he has since left Sincil Bank to take over at Huddersfield Town with Michael Appleton coming into replace him as the club's new manager.

Speaking to Lincoln's official club website, Hesketh suggested Appleton has managed to settle things down since Cowley's departure, and that he hopes to force his way into the side in the coming weeks and months, saying: “It’s always strange being brought in by one manager and, before you get up fit and running, he’s left. That’s a bit of a weird one but the new manager’s come in and everything’s settled down now.

"Everyone’s been really helpful towards me in getting me over my injury. I’ve got through the rehab stage of my injury and getting my fitness back.

"I’m hoping to get into the team and contribute in the attacking third of the pitch,” he said. “I want to chip in with goals and assists. I wouldn’t say goals are the main part of my game but it’s something I’d like to add more of.

"We haven’t won as many games as we would have liked over this past couple of months, but you can see how far the club’s come and where it’s going."

The Verdict

Hesketh has endured an eventful start to life at Lincoln, with the midfielder already having to show the character needed to recover from an injury set back, and also having to impress a new manager having been signed on loan by Cowley before Appleton took over as manager.

The midfielder showed during his loan spell at MK Dons last season that he can help to provide quality in the attacking third from midfield, managing to score two goals and provide four assists in 16 games in League Two last term - and the Imps will be needing a player like that to come in and help them improve their production in the last third.

The rest of the season will be important for Hesketh, who will be aiming to impress his parent club and convince Southampton he can come back and make an impact for their first team, but he must first establish himself in Appleton's side and show he can produce consistent performances for Lincoln.