My site has been down a bit this evening, so I have had to publish this elsewhere. No sooner than I press send, but my site is back up. Doh!
The Imps are in Lincolnshire Senior Cup action this evening, facing off against Gainsborough with a host of trialists in the squad. Luckily, at least for me, Gainsborough Trinity released a team sheet with some of the names on it. Now, unless I am mistaken, it appears we have two players on trial from Derby County, and one each from Grimsby and Scunthorpe United. With the game going on and meaning very little in terms of result (or indeed first-team minutes), I thought I’d bring you a little bit about the four new names on the teamsheet.
Callum Minkley (Trialist C)
Two of the trialists numbered 1 and 3, or not named, but Callum Minkley is. Assuming it is the same Callum Minkley, he recently turned down a contract offer from the Rams and went off in search of a first-team squad place. He operates at right-back or centre back (TJ Eyoma territory) and made nine appearances for the U23s in the Premier League 2 division this past season, scoring once. He’s a 20-year-old, so on the cusp of needing first-team exposure, and he has represented Derby in the UEFA Youth League, against the likes of Salzburg and Minsk.
Joe Bateman (Trialist D)
Bateman has also left The Rams this summer, although he was released rather than offered a new deal. He’s a bit older than Minkley at 22, but is also without Championship experience. He’s been recognised by the LFE in the past and unlike Minkley, he does have a senior Derby start to his name. He played in the centre of a three-man defence in their humbling 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chorley in this year’s FA Cup.
George Hornshaw (Trialist E)
I’m jumping to conclusions a bit here, there might be more than one George Hornshaw, but it is likely that the 21-year-old former Scunthorpe midfielder is our man. He’s been on loan at Gainsborough before, so they’re likely to know him, and he’s got League Two experience. He played against us last season in the EFL trophy, and he started seven League Two matches in total. He wasn’t seen after December 29th when they won 2-1 at Walsall, and he was released at the end of the season.
Jock Curran (Trialist F)
Like George Hornshaw, Curran is a central midfielder recently released by one of our county rivals, namely Grimsby Town. Curran didn’t make any appearances for the Mariners during his time there, but he did enjoy a loan spell with Spalding United.
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