Lincoln City interim manager Tom Shaw has issued an update on the injuries of key attacking duo Ben House, Tyler Walker and Reeco Hackett ahead of today’s League One showdown with Exeter City.
The Imps have had their fair share of injury concerns this season, with former manager Mark Kennedy having to contend with a severe lack of attacking options prior to his dismissal earlier this month. This coincided with a run of one win in seven league outings, with that solitary victory coming against struggling Cheltenham Town.
Shaw has taken over the reins whilst the East Midlands’ team search for Kennedy’s successor and has recorded back-to-back wins thus far, thanks in part to a brace from forgotten man Hakeeb Adelakun against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
Both House and Walker were named as long-term absentees in September, with the former expected to miss between three and five months of action. Speaking ahead of today’s game, Shaw delivered mixed news regarding the pair;
“Ben will be a longer term. He’s had an operation and he’s in very capable hands. He won’t be out for the season, hopefully on the turn of the year we’ll start to see him in and around the grass.
“Tyler will be sooner. We’ve got to get him back out on the grass, but ready to show robustness and be able to get a string of games together and get his flow going.
“We know how talented Tyler is what he can give the group. That’s looking more promising. It’s not going to be tomorrow, but it’s coming and he’s putting so much effort in the gym. You can see every day he’s getting himself in the best physical condition ready for his return to training which is just around the corner so that’s going to be a big boost for everybody.”
Reeco Hackett is more of a fresh concern, having picked up a knock in the win over Fleetwood Town last weekend. However, a spell on the sidelines is on the cards;
“We feared the worst probably the day after the game so it’s not as bad as it could have been. It’s a medium-term injury, probably the best term for it, but he will be out for a little period. Again, he’s in good hands and his mentality means he’ll come back in a in a good place.”
Meanwhile, Teddy Bishop should return to the matchday squad this afternoon, whilst loanee Jack Vale made his long-awaited debut from the bench on Tuesday.
Writer’s View
The fact that Lincoln are in-and-around the play-off places having suffered such bad luck around injuries is a testament to how strong their squad is, although results of others mean they have almost gotten away with their poor form throughout September and earlier this month.
The Imps are a team which will only get stronger once those that are sidelined return to the fold, whilst Jack Moylan will join from Shelbourne in the New Year. The 22-year-old bagged his second hat-trick of the season last night for the League of Ireland side and should arrive at Sincil Bank full of confidence.
