Lincoln City supporters saw their team win 3-0 at Cambridge yesterday, signing off from a period of four games in just ten days.
A spell like that is sure to take a toll on the squad, and Lasse Sorensen, Sean Roughan, and Ted Bishop all sat the game out after picking up injuries. Sorensen and Bishop sustained knocks in the 2-2 draw with Barnsley, whilst Roughan returned from international duty from Ireland with an injury. That’s in addition to long-term absentees Ben House, Reeco Hackett, Lewis Montsma, and Tyler Walker.
The latter had been back on the grass after appearing just six times since his summer move from Coventry. Fans had hoped to see the 27-year-old in action before the turn of the year, given that the club only has two fit strikers – on-loan Blackburn forward Jack Vale and academy graduate Jovon Makama. That hope seems to be fading after head coach Michael Skubala admitted there had been a setback in Walker’s recovery.
“With Tyler, we’ve probably had a little bit of a setback,” confessed the former Leeds United caretaker in his post-match interview.
“He’s been to see a consultant; we’re not sure what that looks like yet. We’re still working with Tyler and what his future looks like in terms of his injury.”
That certainly sounds like a longer spell on the sidelines, just what the Imps do not want. The lack of international call-ups meant they visited Stevenage on November 18th, when all but one other game was called off, and faced Leyton Orient in a rearranged fixture the following Tuesday when nobody else played.
Unlike many of the League One peers, they will now get seven days off, as they’re not involved in the FA Cup Second Round after defeat against Morecambe earlier in the month. The Imps are back in action next Tuesday when they face Accrington in the BSM Trophy, but it sounds like Tyler Walker’s expected return won’t be in that game.
Writer’s View
Michael Skubala’s first four matches have brought seven points, two away wins, and a lot of optimism. That optimism is fed by the fact supporters feel they’re down to the bare bones – if the patched-up side he’s able to put out can secure seven points from nine and sweep Cambridge aside as they did last night, what can a full-strength Imps’ side do?
Sadly, it looks unlikely fans will find out soon. House is out until well into the new year, and there’s no news as yet on Reeco Hackett, which meant attacking hopes were being pinned on Walker. Last night’s news, coming at a time when supporters were in a buoyant mood, was a little deflating.
However, Makama has started back-to-back league matches for the first time in his career, and Vale came on and scored to secure the points; Jack Moylan is now training with the club but isn’t able to play until the new year after signing from Shelbourne, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just not Tyler Walker-shaped light.
