Ex-Chelsea, QPR, Wolves and Forest player training with Lincoln

An ex-Chelsea, QPR, Wolves and Nott’m Forest player is confirmed to be in training with League One outfit Lincoln City.

Manager Michael Appleton has confirmed that defender Michael Mancienne, who is a free agent, has been with the club recently.

The 33-year-old’s last club was MLS outfit New England Revolution, however has seen his contract declined and is now with the Imps along with his brother-in-law Jorge Grant.

We caught up with two former Blues who are now at Nottingham Forest – Liam Bridcutt and Michael Mancienne… #CHENOT pic.twitter.com/fai0myM6On

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 20, 2017

Appleton has stated that a permanent deal for the FA Cup winner is not imminent as he is still short of match fitness, however he didn’t rule out signing him up and the boss is happy to have the former England under 21s defender around the squad.

“Michael is just training with us,” confirmed Appleton. “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 and 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.”

It was Grant who approached Appleton about the possibility of bringing Mancienne in so that he could tain with the club for the meantime.

“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’,” added Appleton.

“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.”

Here’s what the @LincolnCity_FC manager Michael Appleton had to say on former @NERevolution @NFFC @ChelseaFC @QPR @Wolves @HSV_English defender Michael Mancienne being linked with the Imps. pic.twitter.com/uVpGQpFeJ0

— BBC Radio Lincolnshire (@BBCRadioLincs) January 29, 2021

Mancienne had mostly been used as a centre-back throughout his career, though can play as a defensive midfielder as well as at right-back, a versatility is something that really suits Appleton.

The player climbed up through the youth ranks at the Stamford Bridge club and had loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Wolves during his time with the Blues.

Mancienne also made appearances for England, going from under 16s to under 21s, playing under then manager Stuart Pearce, and also managed to get four goals.

In 2011, Mancienne signed up with German giants Hamburg for a fee of around £1.75million on a four-year deal.

Three years into that contract, he returned to England with Nottingham Forest, again then managed by his former England boss Stuart Pearce.

He spent four years at the City Ground, making more than 100 appearances before leaving for the United States in 2018.

After Video Review, Michael Mancienne’s goal stands and we are level! #SEAvNE pic.twitter.com/9n3mbTe13a

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 10, 2019

Michael Appleton is hoping to seal some new signings before Monday’s deadline, and even hoped to have some done before tomorrow’s home game with promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers.

However Appleton said on Friday morning: “I can’t see it happening today. There might be agreements that are put in place but it might be over the weekend or possibly Monday.

“The focus, and rightly so, is tomorrow’s game.”

Another former Premier League player training with a club from the English Football League is Wilfried Bony who is at Newport County.

It isn’t the first time he has done this, building some kind of relationship with the Welsh outfit, though any hopes that he will sign looks unlikely at this stage, however he can and will be a positive impact having him around as the club look to get promoted up to League One.

Fans reacted after seeing that the ex-Chelsea, QPR, Wolves and Nott’m Forest player is training with Lincoln…

@Dunnyyyyyyyy: Good signing that imo for the imps , good ball playing CB just abit weak on set pieces based off his time #nffc

@kingkieren10: Hope he gets a chance in league 1, did give him a lot of stick when he was captain #NFFC

@alllincoln1: This does seem understandable, looking at him last night, he had quite high wages in the MLS, and I think at the moment we could not afford that sort of player unless he drops demands.

@lauren_breen1: Someone for the younger players to look up to at training, played at good variety of clubs. Can only be positive. Lots of experience to share

@Goldenhand33: #nerevs Good for Mance, the athleticism of MLS was too much for him, hopefully he can kicknon at Lincoln City. It won’t be easy, he should be able to provide some good leadership.