Former Nottingham Forest defender Michael Mancienne is training with Lincoln City in a bid to keep up his fitness.
And it was another ex-Red who played a key role in him getting the seal of approval at Sincil Bank.
Mancienne is a free agent, having left MLS side New England Revolution last year. He is also the brother-in-law of Jorge Grant, who made the switch from the City Ground to the Imps in the summer of 2019.
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton says a permanent deal for the 33-year-old is not imminent, but he is happy to have the versatile player around his squad.
“Michael is just training with us,” Appleton told LincolnshireLive. “He’s actually Jorge Grant’s brother-in-law.
“He’s spent the last two seasons over in America and he wants to stay fit and try to play as long as he can.
“We’re more than happy for him to come in and train. He’s a good guy. You never say never but at this moment in time he’s just here to train.
“I don’t mind having good people around the place.”
Mancienne spent four years with the Reds, departing for America in 2018.
Appleton added: “Jorge came to me. If I thought there was going to be an issue and I didn’t think Michael would be a good personality to have around the place, the obvious answer would be ‘get lost’.
“But he’s a good guy, he’s a good player. He clearly lacks a bit of fitness at the minute.
“Let’s see where we are in two or three weeks if he gets up to fitness and to a level that we think makes him capable of playing games.
“If that’s the case, we’ll have a look at it. If not, no problem.”
