Brennan Johnson and Morgan Rogers have both excelled in the Premier League this season
in Villa’s attack and is now one of the first names on Unai Emery’s teamsheet, starting all 12 of their league and Champions League fixtures so far.
Michael Appleton, the club’s manager at the time, was key to the sales pitch. He knew Johnson’s father David from their time as youngsters at Manchester United and had a reputation for providing opportunities to young players as a head coach. Lincoln had to be even more patient with Rogers. City were unwilling to loan him out in the summer but softened their stance in the winter once it became clear that he had outgrown academy football.
“The biggest thing was that they played games,” George says. “Young players need an opportunity to play and they need some backing. “Both of them were just such a massive threat in League One,” George adds. “It’s not just about what a player does in terms of goals and assists, it’s how they make opponents feel and they were threatened by the pace and power of these two. That had a massive impact on how we could play. We were very, very good away from home on the counter-attack.”
Nevertheless, Lincoln can justifiably take great satisfaction from what Johnson, Rogers and others including Nottingham Forest left-back Harry Toffolo have gone on to achieve. Their success has helped George market the club as an ideal stepping stone for up-and-coming prospects; Lincoln currently have the fourth-youngest squad in League One.
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