FIRST choice right back Kyle Knoyle remains a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Lincoln as he continues to work on recovering from a hamstring tweak suffered during Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy loss to Chelsea U21s.

Knoyle, 21, was substituted off the field as a precaution and replaced by James Dunne with less than 20 minutes played during Town’s most recent fixture – which ended in a 4-0 loss.

With no natural right back in Town’s squad to fill Knoyle’s void, assistant manager Neil McDonald admitted Town may have to change to a back three rather than four against the Imps.

McDonald said: “We’ve almost got a full squad. Kyle (Knoyle) obviously came off the field on Tuesday and he’s responding okay to treatment but is a doubt for Saturday.

“Everyone else is fine. Kyle felt a tightness in his hamstring, so we took him off the pitch just as a precaution.

“Hopefully it’s not as bad as what we think, but if it is he will be a big miss.

“We can go to three centre-halves at the back or we could play anyone at right back to be fair.

“We’ve got a couple of options that we can used, fingers crossed Kyle can make it.

“Right back is a technical position, those players that play in the position will say that it’s not an easy place to play.

“We’ve got a couple of options of Kyle doesn’t make it and they will be ready.”

No-nonsense Lincoln will provide Phil Brown’s troops with a tough challenge come 3pm on Saturday, with McDonald adding his side must prevent the hosts from playing the game how they want to.

Last season saw Danny Cowley’s men pump a relentless flow of crosses into Reice Charles-Cook’s box, and it’s a tactic new stopper Lawrence Vigouroux has been made aware of ahead of Town’s second League Two fixture.

Lincoln are very good at what they do,” said McDonald.

“We have a good idea at what team they will put out, we’ve just got to play when we get the ball. We can’t be drawn into playing how they do.

“Sometimes that is difficult because teams close you down quickly and bring in the physical aspect.

“But we showed against Macclesfield we’re prepared to get the ball down on the ground and pass it.

“It’s vitally important that our goalkeeper takes crosses.

“Lincoln do press from the front, so we’ll have to handle the ball well - and both goalkeepers can do that.

“There will always be mental and physical pressure. We’ll be playing away from home in front of a good crowd, possibly a hostile crowd.

“We’ve warned the players what it’s all about, now it’s about how we’ll deal with things on the day.”