Winger Jack Diamond returned to parent club Sunderland recently, but it’s not the bad news you might think.
The five-goal attacker is on loan from the Championship outfit, and Tony Mowbray has previously hinted he may recall him from his Imps spell. Given that he was cup-tied against Bristol City, and wasn’t able to play against Sunderland, he returned to the Academy of Light to join up with the Sunderland first team for a day’s training. That might seem bad news for the Imps, but Mowbray’s comments hint at him not being recalled in the winter window.
“It was only one day because he was cup-tied and didn’t play in the FA Cup for them, so he came and trained,” he told the Sunderland Echo. ”That was all. It was nothing other than that.”
So, there’s no conspiracy afoot, it wasn’t a precursor to getting him back there for January, and Mowbray’s further comments even suggest he is happy with Jack remaining with us if he isn’t going to impact the Sunderland first team.
“He looked alright to me,” he added. “We haven’t discussed what is happening with him, and the bottom line is there’s no point him coming back if he doesn’t get in the team.”
Would he get into the Sunderland team? Possibly not. The report suggests they’ve got Ross Stewart and Ellis Sims both close to a return, with Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, Amad, Alex Pritchard, Elliot Embleton and Jewison Bennette all in the hunt for a role in the Sunderland attack. Given that January is also a chance to add to their ranks, it doesn’t make sense for Diamond to be recalled, nor does it sound like Mowbray is seriously considering it.
That can only be good news for the Imps. Jack has been a key part of our attack, especially given Danny Mandroiu’s injury record of late and Jordon Garrick’s patchy form. With him on one flank and Charles Vernam on the other, we do look like a direct attacking force, and his development is surely best served at Sincil Bank, rather than on the bench or in the stands at the Stadium of Light.
Jack has started 12 League One matches for the Imps, with two appearances in the Papa John’s Trophy. He’s bagged five goals, including a hat trick against Bristol Rovers and penalties against Derby County and Accrington. He’s also claimed two assists, one in the 6-3 win against Bristol Rovers and another as we beat Barnsley 1-0.
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