Lincoln City manager Michael Skubala has confirmed that on-loan Sheffield Wednesday striker Bailey Cadamarteri faces a longer spell on the sidelines than initially expected.
The loanee was last seen in the closing stages of the EFL Trophy defeat against Bolton Wanderers and was believed to be out for only a short period. However, his recovery is taking longer than first anticipated.
Cadamarteri’s Return Date Uncertain
Cadamarteri underwent a further assessment this week, with the club yet to determine a clear return date.
“He’s gone back for another scan today, so we’re still assessing. He’s quite a bit off, and we’re not 100 percent sure yet when he’ll be back. It’s probably taking a little longer than we initially thought, but we should know more next week as we track his recovery.”
While his absence is a blow, Skubala emphasised the importance of squad depth as Lincoln faces a demanding fixture schedule.
Other Injury Concerns for Lincoln City
Cadamarteri is not the only player sidelined. Ethan Erhahon is set for an extended spell out, while Tom Bayliss has missed training this week.
“A couple of injuries have affected us. Ethan Erhahon is looking at six to eight weeks out, which is a big miss since he’s been ever-present for us,” Skubala said.
However, there is some positive news, with Tom Hamer making progress in his recovery.
“The good news is that Tom Hamer is back on the grass and starting to rejoin training, which is great. But there are still a few niggles from last week’s game. A couple of players have missed some time this week, and Tom Bayliss had to come off with a tight hamstring, missing the start of training.”
Lincoln’s Squad Depth to Be Tested
With injuries piling up and Joe Gardner suspended, Skubala may be forced into reshuffling his side. Jack Moylan remains unavailable, meaning Lincoln may have to turn to Ben House, Conor McGrandles, or Ethan Hamilton to fill gaps in midfield, with Sam Clucas potentially operating in a deeper role.
Up front, the absence of Cadamarteri means that House, Makama, Draper, and Collins could all be in contention for attacking roles as Lincoln look to maintain their momentum.
Writer’s View
Lincoln City’s injury concerns come at a crucial stage of the season, and while losing Cadamarteri for longer than expected is a blow, Skubala’s squad depth may soften the impact. The return of Tom Hamer is a positive, but with a demanding run of fixtures ahead, Lincoln will need to rely on their rotation options to stay competitive. How they navigate these absences could be key to their League One ambitions.
