Carl Rushworth has been delighted with the positive feedback he’s had from Lincoln City supporters early on in his time at Sincil Bank.
The 21-year-old has impressed fans with his shot stopping and distribution, with Carl reckoning their compliments help boost his confidence.
“In some games there’s not too many actions I’ve got to make, we’ve defended well. There have been a couple of times I’ve been called upon and I think in those moments I’ve done pretty well and fans have been complimenting me which gives me a big confidence boost.
“It’s my first season in League One, so it’s a step up, but it’s great that people think I can handle it, because my aim this year was to push on from last year and try and have a really good season.
“Since I’ve been here I’ve been looked after really well by the staff and I knew a few of the boys in the squad as well, that’s helped me settle. I feel like the boys have welcomed me in and now that I’ve shown what I can do in training and in games, we’ve built up that mutual respect and we know we can all rely on each other in games.
“That’s helped me get involved in the group. I am liking Lincoln, I am liking the area, it’s a nice change, it’s a bit quiet but I like it.”
Former Premier League teams such as Derby County and Portsmouth currently play their football in the third tier and Rushworth is relishing the prospect of facing big teams in front of big crowds.
“There is a real mix of teams, but every game we play is tough. There’s some big teams in the league such as Derby, Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
“I am looking forward to playing in their stadiums in front of the massive crowds, but every game is important, ultimately it doesn’t matter who we play because the aim is to always win.”
The goalkeeper is three appearances shy of half a century in the EFL – having spent last season on loan with League Two Walsall – a landmark he is proud of.
“At the end of the day, seasons go by really quickly and when you’re playing Saturday-Tuesday, it flies by. The fact I’ve played nearly 50 games in the EFL is massive for me, it’s the experience you need and the more you get the more confident you can be, it puts you into so many different situations that you can learn from.
“I have come on a lot in the last 12 months, that began by getting that exposure at Walsall, throwing myself in at the deep end in certain situations – it’s been a real positive for me.”