Former Lincoln City keeper training with Championship side

Former Lincoln City keeper Josh Vickers is currently training with promoted Rotherham, as revealed by Alan Nixon.

Vickers joined the Imps following their promotion from the National League in 2016/17, but endured an injury-hit spell which saw him miss their Checkatrade Trophy win at Wembley the following year. He put his injury problems behind him to appear as they won League Two in 2018/19, before making 37 appearances in League One last season.

In one notable performance early in the season, he pulled off a save against Rotherham United which earned him a nomination for the Football Supporters Association ‘Safe Hands Award’ in December. He didn’t win, but that performance clearly stuck in the mind of the Millers, who now have him on trial.

The 24-year-old started out as a trainee with Arsenal, later hooking up with former Lincoln manager Danny Cowley at Concord Rangers. He then joined Premier League side Swansea City, spending time on loan with Barnet before being snapped up by Lincoln. Rotherham were promoted to the Championship at the end of last season by virtue of the Points Per Game system, their sixth divisional change in just eight seasons.

Vickers was released by the Imps as part of their remodelling in the wake of the recent pandemic.

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Our View

Vickers had a bit of an injury-hit spell with The Imps and came under criticism at times last season, not least in the 3-1 defeat at Sunderland, for erratic displays. It would be unfair to characterise him for a few basic errors though, as he also proved himself to be a solid shot-stopper. His command of the area could be better and the Imps conceded a lot from set-pieces, but that could have been down to the defence as much as anything.

Vickers is still only 24 and whilst he might now go to the New York Stadium as a first-team choice, he would offer a solid and dependable back up, if he earns a deal of course.