Dover boss Chris Kinnear is hoping his return to Lincoln City for Saturday’s Vanarama Conference clash at Sincil Bank will be a lot happier than the time he spent with The Imps when he was a young player.

Kinnear spent six weeks with Lincoln after the former West Ham United apprentice left Upton Park and says he remembers his time there well.

He said: “It was the first time I had been with a club outside of London and it wasn’t easy to adjust to it.

“I was probably only about 18 or 19 and I found it lonely up there. They also took the mickey out of my London accent.

“I just had to get away in the end and I did.”

Whites are unbeaten in 13 league games and are ninth ahead of the clash with Lincoln, who are 11th.

Lincoln lost 4-0 at Chester on Tuesday and had two players sent-off but Kinnear said that performance counts for little.

He knows it will be another tough test for his side against a team who have already completed the double over leaders Barnet this season.

Kinnear said: “They (Lincoln) come with plenty of pedigree and history. It was only a couple years ago that were playing in the Football League.

“We know what they are capable of, especially at home. They have a good record there. We have to make sure we are on our game.”