Lincoln City have three injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s clash with Exeter City.
While the Grecians visit the LNER Stadium unbeaten in their last five outings, the Imps will be without two important first-team players. Midfielder Ethan Erhahon and striker Freddie Draper are both set to miss out, alongside Bailey Cadamarteri, whose stint with the club looks to be over after a season-ending injury.
Erhahon, one of Lincoln’s standout assets this season, remains sidelined with a tendon issue that continues to be monitored closely by medical staff. Skubala provided an update ahead of the weekend’s fixture, stressing the club’s caution with his recovery process.
“He’s progressing nicely, but still a bit of time off,” said the Imps head coach. “He’s running on the grass, so that’s excellent news. He’s not with team training yet, but he started running on the grass. You know, we’ll probably see him in and around a few weeks.”
“It’s hard to say at the moment because we need to rescan and see how that’s healing. With a tendon injury, you don’t want that to come back out of nowhere. So it’s a bit of a steady process for him.
“But, you know, I hope to see him five, six games, maybe rest of the season. That’s what we’re hoping for Ethan.”
The uncertainty surrounding Erhahon’s return, combined with his reported valuation of over £1 million, means Lincoln are understandably reluctant to rush him back. With mathematical safety almost secured, preserving one of their most marketable talents appears to be a logical move.
Meanwhile, Draper is nursing a knock picked up in the recent clash with Birmingham. The academy graduate has notched four goals this term and is expected to return within a fortnight, potentially in time for the fixture against Huddersfield Town.
“Freddie’s out at the moment. He’s got a bit of a hit from the Birmingham game, but he’s a lot closer. So he’s on the grass. He’ll be back in team training this week, no doubt, but he’s probably more 10 days, 14 days off.”
Writer’s View
Lincoln City’s position in the table offers some breathing space, and the timing of injuries may be a blessing in disguise. With Erhahon’s future likely to attract summer attention, the club’s cautious approach protects both his health and market value.
Draper’s absence is less damaging thanks to the current formation, and with goals flowing at home, the Imps look well-equipped to finish the season strongly, even with a rotated squad.
