Michael Skubala has dropped the broadest hint yet that teenage striker Freddie Draper will be recalled from his loan spell at Walsall.
I’m going to write the game up tomorrow – I think I need a night’s sleep to get a bit of perspective on what was a real blow against Bolton, but I felt I needed to pick over the post-match comments from the Imps’ boss.
City lost 1-0 to a late goal after going down to ten men, but in attack, offered little. Jovon Makama fought hard, but he isn’t a League One striker right now, and Jack Vale certainly looks like he’s out of favour. A toothless Imps attack is letting down a decent midfield and defence, and something will change in January.
Jack Moylan will come into the squad; he’s available from January 1st, and we may have to recall Freddie Draper as well. The 19-year-old is averaging a goal every two games for Walsall, bagging ten in eighteen starts, including the opener in their win this afternoon. Including his Drogheda spell, which started in January, he’s bagged 19 goals in 2023. That certainly makes him a prospect for the Imps, and talk of his recall has been bouncing around for a while.
In his post-match interview, Skubala mentioned players set to return to the squad – that’s sure to include Moylan and the injured Reeco Hackett, but it seems it might also refer to Freddie.
“There’s players that need to come back,” he said, discussing January business with Michael Hortin. “I’m excited by some of the players that are coming back as well as going into the market as well.”
Of course, Michael Hortin pushed the issue, asking if that included a player who scored for Walsall. With Skubala, you get an answer to a question, and he elaborates on his words.
“(I’m) talking about players that are our players, that are injured or part of other clubs. We have to make decisions on those players because we’re going to need some reinforcements in January of some sort.
“He is one of our players. So we have to make the right decision for Freddie, but we have to make the right decision for the club at the moment as well.”
19-year-old Draper came through the club’s academy after joining us from Derby County. He made his debut in October 2021, coming off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday, and he scored his first professional goal after coming off the bench against Newcastle United U21s last season.
He’s since enjoyed a loan spell with Drogheda, where he netted eight times in 22 matches, before moving to Walsall on loan at the beginning of the season. He’s been a revelation with the Saddlers, scoring 10 times in 18 starts, including a hattrick against Newport County.
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