Lincoln City striker Freddie Draper has signed a new contract at the club which will see him stay at the Imps until 2028.
Draper has committed himself to prolonging his stay at the LNER Stadium after coming through the club’s academy and establishing himself in the side in recent months.
A key fixture
The forward has found himself fairly often in head coach Michael Skubala’s plans this season but has struggled at times, netting four goals in an inconsistent season for the Imps. Draper has played 34 times in his first full season of regular football at the club, and his head coach says there is more to come from the 20-year-old.
Speaking to Lincoln City’s official channels, Skubala said, “He has earned this contract for his hard work throughout the season. As he says there is more to come from him and we can all see the real potential he has. Strikers capable of playing in League One are hard to find – he is already there and has all the attributes to excel at this level.
“This shows the real belief we have in him and should give him encouragement for the rest of the campaign and beyond.
A Difficult Campaign
It’s not been an easy time for Draper, despite his continued development at the LNER Stadium. He has played well but often struggled for goals in League One, though has earned praise for his physical presence and hold-up play.
He returned to Lincolnshire after a half-season loan at League Two side Walsall last season, which gave him his first real taste of senior football. Draper scored ten times in his spell in the West Midlands, but has struggled to find the same scoring form in League One. Despite this, he was the subject of bids in the last two transfer windows, according to the club, but these were rejected, highlighting his importance to the side’s plans.
In spite of his struggles, City’s Director of Football Jez George is pleased with Draper’s development.
He said, “We understand the world in which we operate and that in football, patience is in short supply but development is never linear and there are always bumps in the road.
“He is still so young and has so much more to come, even though he has already led the line for us in League One this season. We look forward to Freddie continuing to develop at Lincoln City.”
Writer’s View
This deal is a sign of the confidence Lincoln have in Draper. He’s struggled at times but is still young and a valuable asset to the club. The January signing of James Collins will only help Draper’s development, and all signs point towards his improvement over the duration of the deal.
