Walsall manager Mat Sadler hopes to see Freddie Draper at the Bescot Stadium for ‘a long time’ amid rumours that Lincoln City could recall the striker from his season-long loan in January.
The 19-year-old is predicted to have a big future in the game and has enjoyed an excellent stint at the West Midlands side since joining in July. Last night’s hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Newport County took his season tally to eight, and he salvaged a point for his side with almost the last kick of the game.
Whilst Walsall are enjoying the fruits of his talent, parent club Lincoln are in dire need of an attacker thanks to long-term injuries to both Tyler Walker and Ben House. Last weekend’s dire 1-0 defeat against Burton Albion at the LNER Stadium saw them slip to 16th in the League One table, despite squandering several chances of their own.
Manager Mark Kennedy was dismissed earlier this week and the Imps travel to Fleetwood Town this afternoon under the stewardship of interim boss Tom Shaw. The 36-year-old still has to contend with injury issues at the top end of the field, leading to Imps’ fans to call upon the club to bring back their teenage academy graduate in January.
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Sadler hopes that his form at the League Two outfit has gone unnoticed though, admitting the club hold a good relationship with Lincoln. Speaking after the game, via the Express & Star, the gaffer said;
“Whisper it because he is doing some fantastic things. We’ve got a great relationship with Lincoln and we hope to see Freddie for as long as we can in a Walsall shirt because he is doing fantastic things.
“He gives everything. He gives his all and we are all enjoying the fruits of having Freddie around. It was great to throw the three of them on (Danny Johnson and Jamille Matt).”
This is Draper’s third loan spell since breaking through Lincoln’s academy, spending time with Gainsborough Trinity in 2022 before a successful stint at Drogheda United earlier this year.
Writer’s View
This will be a tricky one for Lincoln. On one hand, they will not want to harm his development by recalling him early from a team where he is likely to be a regular feature for the remainder of the campaign. On the other, the Imps’ next manager may decide that he is the man he wants to lead his front line.
Although it is slim pickings in the attacking options at Sincil Bank at the moment, this should ease by the end of the year. Tyler Walker could return next month whereas loanee Jack Vale is nearing a return to full fitness and could make his debut in the coming weeks. Walsall will be hoping the Blackburn Rovers man hits the ground running, and Draper can remain where he is until the end of the season.
