As reported earlier, City have now secured the signing of winger Jack Diamond on loan from Championship side Sunderland.
Diamond, who is the player we’ve been tantalising close to for at least a week, finally had his loan move rubber-stamped, and he will now likely feature for City at some point this week. The 22-year-old had a superb season in League Two with Harrogate last time out and is highly regarded at Sunderland, having played much of their 2020/21 play-off campaign.
“It’s great to get it over the line,” he told the club’s official site. “The whole process has been a long time coming and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve played a full season last year with Harrogate and need that consistency to keep pushing myself in my career – this club is a great platform to do it.
“The facilities here are really good, and hopefully, I’ll fit in well and help progress my career further. I’m direct, work very hard and like to get goals and assists. I’m keen to improve all of the time and having spoken to everyone here, I’m confident I can do that.”
Diamond graduated from Sunderland’s Academy of Light, before a loan move to Harrogate, where he played a key role in their promotion to the Football League. After a full season with Sunderland, during which he started 11 League One matches and played in 24 overall, he was loaned back to Harrogate.
However, his stint in the Black Cats team did bring him a goal at Lincoln, and he won a penalty with a dart into the box as we lost 4-0. His second loan spell in Yorkshire saw him net 14 times for the club, adding four assists. 18 goal involvements in 45 matches is certainly not to be sniffed at. Former Imp Simon Weaver wanted him back at Wetherby Road, saying; “We had a good go at getting him back here again. We’ve tried to sign him on a permanent deal but got knocked back. We’ve tried to bring him back on a loan basis, on any basis we could to be honest. We’ve tried, but Sunderland own Jack, he is their player and we have to respect that. With regard to the loan, they’ve said to us that they want to see the lad tested at League One level now that they have gone up to the Championship. Obviously, it is disappointing because Jack Diamond is a real talent and he made a big impression during his time here.”
With our Jack of Diamonds, along with Garrick and Vernam we now hopefully have pace in wide areas. Let’s hope it leaves us feeling flush next time we’re on show at Sincil Bank!
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