Football pundit and former Championship striker Sam Parkin has praised Sheffield Wednesday’s young forward Bailey Cadamarteri following his move to Lincoln City.
The 19-year-old striker, who progressed through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday’s academy, broke into the first team at Hillsborough with more than 20 appearances last season. In search of more game time and further development, Cadamarteri made the move to Lincoln City on a season-long loan over the summer.
He made his debut recently against Stevenage in the Imps’ 1-0 win, but has yet to start a competitive fixture. The Imps travel to Peterborough United this weekend, and Parkin believes that the young Owls striker could be a key figure as they come back from the international break.
Parkin, speaking on the podcast What The EFL, highlighted that Cadamarteri could address Lincoln’s struggles in front of goal, which had been a concern for the club in recent months. While they’re the division’s leading scorers, seven of their nine goals have come from defensive players.
With the Imps seeking to bolster their attacking options, the pundit suggested that the young forward’s presence could be crucial for the upcoming campaign.
“One signing I want to flag is Bailey Cadamarteri,” Parkin said. “In terms of a League One signing, he could be excellent.”
Lincoln’s reliance on finding a consistent goal scorer has been a focal point of discussion among fans and analysts alike. The Imps play an attacking lineup, which included the likes of Ben House and academy product Jovon Makama starting, but with Rob Street, Freddie Draper and a currently injured Tyler Walker all vying for a starting place. Parkin expressed hope that Cadamarteri could offer something different to Lincoln’s frontline.
“I think Lincoln are a side we primarily talked about the absence of a killer threat, maybe or a really good array of options. They had obviously Joe Taylor on loan last year; Freddie Draper is there as well, but Ben House and Makama – I think he’s a young lad that came through the academy of Lincoln – they have those two leading the line. So, Bailey Cadamarteri, I think League One level, is definitely someone to keep an eye out for this season,” Parkin added.
Cadamarteri made his home debut for Lincoln coming off the bench against Chesterfield before the international break, and will be hoping for more opportunities under manager Michael Skubala as the season progresses.
He came through Sheffield Wednesday’s academy and made his senior debut for the club in 2022. During the 2022/23 season, he made 23 appearances and scored four goals for Danny Rohl’s side, winning the Championship’s Young Player of the Month in December. He is the son of former Premier League forward Danny Cadamarteri, who played for clubs like Everton and Bradford City during his career.
Writer’s View
Cadamarteri is an exciting young talent with immense potential. At just 19, he’s already shown flashes of his ability at Sheffield Wednesday, and a loan spell at Lincoln City could be the perfect opportunity for him to make his mark. With his impressive physical attributes and eye for goal, he has all the tools to succeed at League One level.
What stands out about Cadamarteri is his versatility and work rate. He’s more than just a target man; his movement off the ball and ability to link up play will add a new dimension to Lincoln’s attack. With Lincoln searching for a consistent goal threat, Cadamarteri could be the missing piece that helps them push further up the table this season.
