Lincoln City have been rocked by the news that playmaker Jack Moylan could be out from anywhere between six weeks and the rest of the season.
The Imps host Peterborough United tomorrow afternoon in search of back-to-back victories for the first time since October. Last weekend’s 1-0 win over Northampton Town was just the second time they had picked up three points in 13 outings, leaving them languishing in mid-table.
A major part of their problem has been their output in front of goal. Tendayi Darikwa’s strike at Sixfields ended a run of five league games without a goal.
Moylan is a player who is capable of plucking something out of nowhere and on his day, is arguably Lincoln’s most creative player. He started against Northampton, although lasted just 26 minutes before he was forced off with an injury. He was later pictured leaving the stadium in a protective boot.
“Not Looking Good”
Ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Posh, head coach Michael Skubala delivered an update on the 23-year-old. Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, he said:
“He’s (Moylan) rolled his ankle quite severely, so it’s one of those injuries that could be six weeks or unfortunately will probably be the season.
“He’s got to see another specialist tomorrow and then we’ll probably get the details of that, but it’s not looking good at the moment. It could be one that’s a bit worrying.”
Moylan has made 33 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring five times and contributing two assists.
Cult Hero
Moylan has become somewhat of a cult hero at the LNER Stadium since his arrival from Shelbourne a year ago. He has become a player that has earned a reputation of scoring stunning goals. This was showcased during a 5-1 win over Barnsley last season, where he bagged a brace.
Lincoln fans have taken the Irishman as one of their own, comparing him to Lionel Messi. Like Skubala, they will be hoping that they will see him back in the red and white for the business end of the season.
Writer’s View
For a team that is struggling in front of goal, losing a player of Jack Moylan’s calibre is a huge blow. This coincides with the loss of top scorer Bailey Cadamarteri with injury concerns of his own, although the arrival of James Collins from Derby County should aid that conundrum. Lincoln do have other options they can utilise in Moylan’s absence. Ben House is more than capable of dropping into a deeper role, whereas new signing Sam Clucas, Ethan Hamilton and Tom Bayliss could also cover the position.