Clucas re-signs for Lincoln after 15 years away

Sam Clucas is approaching 500 first-team appearances in his career so far that has included spells in the Premier League with Swansea City and Hull City

Lincoln City have re-signed Sam Clucas from Oldham Athletic, 15 years after the midfielder left the Imps.

Since featuring for his hometown club as a teenager, the now 34-year-old has featured for eight sides across England's top five divisions - including spells in the Premier League with Swansea and Hull City.

Clucas returns to Lincoln on a deal that runs until the end of the season, although there is an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

Imps boss Michael Skubala said the midfielder would bring "knowledge, experience and leadership" to a side with one of the youngest playing groups in League One.

"This is a different type of signing for the club but a clever one in that Sam is 'coming home' towards the end of a fantastic career, wanting to contribute on and off the pitch," Skubala told the club website.

"Once we can get him up to speed, we also know that Sam can provide us with cover and competition in a vital area of the pitch.

"He will also help our younger players with the standards that he will set on the training pitch every day."

Clucas spent the past six seasons in the Championship with Stoke and Rotherham, but dropped down to the National League with Oldham this term.

He has made nine appearances across all competitions for the Latics since November, and they say they "exhausted all avenues" to try keep him.

"It became apparent that the lure of returning to his hometown club and future opportunities beyond playing football were too great," Oldham said on their website.

Lincoln director of football Jez George said the signing was not "based on sentiment", and hopes Clucas' influence will be felt beyond the pitch.

"Sam played more than 30 times in the Championship last season and has come here to contribute," George said.

"While no-one knows exactly what that will look like, we believe Sam can do that on and off the pitch, potentially even beyond playing."

Lincoln are 12th in League One, nine points outside the play-off places, ahead of Saturday's game at Northampton Town.