LINCOLN UNITED captain Brendan McDaid could not overstate the importance of experience in the Whites youthful ranks ahead of their clash with Leek Town tomorrow (3pm).

The Ashby Avenue outfit have lost regular first-teamers Mario Ziccardi, Sean Cann and Jon Machin to other clubs and now rely on a system of youth development.

And seasoned skipper McDaid admits that the club's testing financial situation has left manager John Wilkinson no option but to focus on promoting youngsters to the first-team.

"The financial problems I believe we have here have left us trying to blood some of the youngsters in the first team," said the 36-year-old.

"Experience in this team is proving vital when considering the youth we have. Terry Fleming, Ian Wilkins and Steve Melton are needed – especially with the positions they play.

"Terry has played a lot of professional football, I've been playing at this level for a while and Matt O'Halloran has played at a high level too.

"A team full of 20-year-olds wouldn't cope, and so the experience the older guys provide is needed to guide and help the rest of the lads."

Whatever the policy may be at Ashby Avenue, it seems to be working following a 2-0 win over Stamford last week, a 2-2 draw with 10 men against Boston Town in the FA Cup and then a midweek 4-2 victory in their replay with the Poachers.

Twenty-year-old Chris Funnell bagged the equaliser in their home tie against Boston Town and McDaid used the youngster as an example of the right attitude showin by youth players at United.

"Our young lads need to be in right frame of mind, whether they're starting or on the bench," he said.

"For example, the other night our young lad Chris Funnell came on quite late, scored a very good goal and nearly set up the winner.

"And he showed how you need to prepare as a young lad on the bench – watch the game and when you get your chance you take it."

Following their advance in the FA Cup, morale is high among McDaid and his team-mates. A difficult opener at Carlton Town has been wiped from the memory with a string of encouraging displays.

And the Whites skipper is hoping a buoyant United can take on Leek tomorrow and provide a spectacle worthy of the Evo-Stik League Division One (South).

"Confidence is high in the camp at the moment following on from our encourgaing cup displays and a good win against Stamford," said the midfielder.

"Leek are a footballing side and when we play it's normally action-packed and a good advert for this level of football."

The Whites laboured to a 19th-place finish in the division last season, following a disastrous start under former manager Seamus Lawless.

Although there is the hope that under manager John Wilkinson the team can push on to a top-half finish, according to McDaid.

"I'd say we always aim for the top-10, if then we're mixing it by Christmas and our young lads have adapted and our older players are still going strong then we may look at promotion," said McDaid.