Imps Land Winger – A Signing You Weren’t Expecting

Credit - Chris Vaughan / Lincoln City

City have completed the signing of winger Mide Shodipo on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season, and he’s in the squad for this afternoon’s fixture with MK Dons.

The exciting wide man is a product of the QPR Academy and has enjoyed loan spells at Port Vale, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday. While at the Kassam Stadium the 25-year-old played a pivotal role in helping Oxford reach the League One play-off semi-finals with a spell in which he scored 13 goals in all competitions, with three assists. Ironically, he made his debut for them against MK Dons and netted an 88th minute winner after coming on as a sub. Is that an omen? He went on to net eight in 12 for them over December that season, and scored in their play-off semi-final against Blackpool, albeit one they drew 3-3 after losing the first leg 3-0.

Last season, he joined Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday on loan, but scored just once in 12 outings during an injury-hit season. This campaign, Shodipo has made 11 Championship appearances for the Hoops and will now see out the rest of 2022/23 with the Imps. He is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and despite starting the recent QPR defeat against Luton, he’s likely to be out of the manager’s plans going forward.

Head coach Mark Kennedy said: “Mide is a direct and creative player who will bring us more options in the attacking third. He is an experienced player at this level and has played in the Championship this season, he comes with the qualities to make an impact this season.”

Shodipo was once considered an exciting prospect by QPR, but at 25 that time has passed and whilst he has remained around the squad, it is unlikely he forms a part of their plan going forward. I’m thinking Shodipo is a bit of a Jordon Garrick figure, albeit with a more solid reputation at this level. He was, at times, unplayable for Oxford during his spell here, and as for Sheff Weds, they saw a couple of loan players flop last season (Corbeanu) who went on to better things.

It’s hard to judge a player before he comes in, and we’ve been burned with loans before, but I feel there’s real value here. He did well at Oxford, and his Sheff Weds spell has to be balanced against where they were as a club at the time. All in, This is a strong capture in an area we need strengthening and for a player who is not untested. That’s got to be a good thing and hopefully, a sign of a couple more strong captures to come which help us stay in this division for another season.