Former City loanee Conor Coventry is looking forward to returning Sincil Bank for the first time after leaving the club in 2020.
Coventry signed for Lincoln in Michael Appleton’s first transfer window on loan until the end of the season. The Irish midfielder instantly came into the team, making his debut away at Shrewsbury Town and completing his first 90 minutes in senior football. He went on to play 7 games for City before the season was cut short with the COVID outbreak.
When speaking to the West Ham United official website, Conor said, “It was a great experience for me at Lincoln, It was my first loan, my first experience of real first team football.
“I wasn’t there too long because of COVID, but I really enjoyed it. It’s a good club with a really good following and fanbase, with good people there who made me feel welcome and helped me out.”
The midfielder felt frustrated that his loan spell ended the way it did, but he’s thankful he was given the experience to get his first senior football at Sincil Bank. He made his final City appearance against Burton Albion – a game we won 3-2 – just before the season was curtailed.
“I was just sort of adapting and had put a run of games together, so I sort of felt like I was finding my way and was hoping to kick on there until the end of the season, so it was a little bit frustrating that COVID cut it short, but I learned a lot there about myself in general.
“It was my first taste of league games and playing in front of fans, so looking back I took a lot from it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesConor was very complementary of how City have moved forward in the last few seasons. Since leaving the Imps, there has been a change in management as well as a League One playoff final. Conor thinks West Ham will be in for a tough game this evening up against Mark Kennedy’s side.
“I know a few of the boys there and they have some really talented players. I know the way they want to play is in a good style and it will be a tough game. They’ve had a good start to the season so it should be a good test.”
The Irish U21 international is yet to feature for West Ham this season, with very strong competition in midfield. Despite losing Declan Rice, the Hammers added the talent of James Ward-Prowse in midfield – a player we faced last season when we narrowly lost against Southampton- but despite that Coventry is hoping he can get his opportunity to impress under the Sincil Bank floodlights.
“Hopefully I can get some minutes. I’m hoping to play and we’ll see what happens. Our schedule until the next international break is jam packed with games every few days so we know everybody is going to be needed.“