Lincoln City’s defence has taken another hit ahead of tonight’s EFL Trophy game against Manchester City’s Under-21s.
Head Coach Michael Skubala confirmed that MJ Kamara will miss the match due to a broken foot. This adds to the Imps’ injury struggles as they prepare to host the young Premier League side. Kamara’s absence leaves Lincoln short of options, as they’re already grappling with injuries to key defenders Tom Hamer and Adam Jackson.
Kamara, who had featured for Lincoln in the EFL Trophy earlier this season while on loan at Peterborough Sports, was injured in a recent game against Marine and is now sidelined indefinitely. His absence marks the third defensive player out of action, placing pressure on Skubala and his squad to rearrange the back line against challenging opposition.
Further Absences Add to Selection Challenges
Adding to the defensive shortage, Lincoln City will also be without Ethan Erhahon and Saxon Earley due to suspensions. The two midfielders are ineligible after accumulating yellow cards in previous rounds of the EFL Trophy. Erhahon, who narrowly missed Lincoln’s last league match, and Earley, who is on loan from Plymouth Argyle, both would have been welcomed options in the face of the team’s injuries.
Skubala discussed the challenging situation during his pre-match press conference, expressing cautious optimism but acknowledging the extensive adjustments required to field a strong squad against Manchester City’s U21 side.
“[We have] a few knocks and wounds, but most of them came through Bristol OK, so that’s good news,” Skubala noted. “There’s a few managed minutes for Tuesday that we’ve got to look at, a few injuries we know about, so Tom Hamer, Jacko, and the usual ones.”
With the suspensions in effect, Skubala emphasised the difficulty of rotating the team effectively. Both Erhahon and Earley have missed opportunities to accumulate more minutes with the first team, and the head coach noted it would have been ideal to include them in Tuesday’s squad.
The Imps need a win to ensure progression to the next round, having already beaten Grimsby Town but lost to Chesterfield.
Writer’s View
Lincoln’s depleted defence is certainly a worry for fans as they face an energetic Manchester City U21 side. While Gallagher offers some relief, the absence of Kamara and the reliance on shuffled defensive strategies put Lincoln in a vulnerable position. For Skubala, the match will be as much a tactical challenge as a test of his players’ resolve to overcome the club’s ongoing injury crisis.
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