It’s a trip to Blackpool for Michael Appleton on his first game in charge of Lincoln City, and he’ll be hoping that it’s his team that provide all the illuminations.

The Imps lost their beloved manager Danny Cowley to Huddersfield Town earlier this month, and took their time before finding the ideal replacement. Appleton ticked all the required boxes, and was handed a four-year deal at Sincil Bank.

After watching his new team slump to a 6-0 defeat at home to his former club Oxford United on Saturday, Appleton will be keen to get Lincoln City back on track in League One.  The club’s biggest defeat since returning to the Football League in 2017 has thrown them out of the play-off places and into 10th for the arrival of Appleton, who will look to continue the good work left undone at the club.

Here we take a look at two players who will be key for Appleton this season.

Tyler Walker

At 22-years-old, Nottingham Forest striker Tyler Walker is already a serial loanee of the Football League. He signed for his sixth loan club at the start of the season, joining Lincoln for the entirety of the campaign.

He’s netted five goals in the league this season and is the club’s leading top scorer. Appleton has already expressed his admiration for Walker, saying in yesterday’s pre-match press conference:

"It’s about trying not to get the ball into him too soon. You’ve got to have balance. When you’ve got someone like that, who’s got decent pace and movement, there’s a keenness to go into them too quickly.”

That’s been true too many times for Lincoln this season. They’re often too eager in their attacks which has led to them being vulnerable on the counter. Walker will be immensely key for Appleton this season, not only for his goals, but also for his ability to control the forward line.

Harry Anderson

Harry Anderson is another youngster who blossomed under the Cowleys. Having been signed on-loan by Danny Cowley three times (once with Braintree Town and twice with Lincoln), he made the third permanent after Lincoln’s promotion to League Two in 2017.

He’s become an integral part of Lincoln’s squad with over 100 appearances for the Imps since 2016. Predominantly deployed as a right-winger, Anderson has shown the ability to play on either flank and developed an eye for goal too, with three so far this season.

A very physical player, Anderson shows both defensive and attacking capabilities for his side. He too will be pivotal in getting Lincoln back onto the trajectory that the Cowley’s left them in, and will be one of the first names on Appleton’s team sheet.