Defender Lewis Montsma has signed a short-term contract to remain with the Imps for the next six months.
Michael Skubala hinted at it in his recent interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire, and it has now been confirmed. This is great news for everyone at the club; Montsma has the potential to be a key first-team player if he gets back to full fitness.
”Lincoln feels like home and I’m very happy we could agree something and to sign.” he said. “The support of the club has been brilliant and it works both ways – they know what I can do and how hard I work, and they’ve put a lot of trust in me. There’s no better place to get back to my levels than here at Lincoln City.
“The fans have always been good to me when injured, they’ve given me a boost to work hard and come back again, and I can’t wait until I play in front of them again.”
It’s fair to say there’s ‘Lasse levels’ of love for Lewis. A year or two ago, everyone was saying how they wanted Lasse to do well – I think I even said there had rarely been a player I wanted to succeed as much as him for his attitude, application and personality. It’s 100% accurate to say that is the case with Lewis.
Two ACLs have shattered his promising career, but here we are, talking about a still young 26-year-old being given a chance to get back to where he was. A player we’ve seen in the stands with fans, who we’ve seen bleed for the club. Is there a single story you want more than for Lewis Montsma to get properly fit, drop into the back three and start pinging 50-yard crossfield passes to Reeco in a Michael Skubala team? There isn’t for me.
It’s not all about us though, as Jez George confirms.
“This is the right thing to do for Lewis. We are looking after Lewis as a person first and foremost. That is our driver. We also know the quality of Lewis as a player but that will be a consideration later.
“Our fundamental aim is to get him back playing and for that we need more time, hence the contract extension. We also believe we should be the club which takes on that responsibility and ensures that we do so with Lewis’s absolute best long-term interests at heart.
“We all need to be patient and accept that Lewis’ return to action will look different to everyone else’s pre-season but it is brilliant that we can look forward to seeing Lewis again in a Lincoln City shirt. I am sure that our fans are proud to support a club with the values to make this decision.”
He also added a final big thank you, one I think needs highlighting. Our medical team take a battering at times, as if the injury situation is their fault, but that isn’t the case.
“I would like to mention one more person,” added Jez. “Because while it is a team effort, with everyone from Clive Nates and Harvey Jabara to the board, Liam Scully, Michael Skubala and all the coaching, medical and sports science staff having supported Lewis, it would be remiss of me not to highlight the professional and emotional investment of Kieran Walker, our head of medical, throughout the rehab process with Lewis from two ACL reconstructions. He has been immense.”
Yes, we have to be patient. Yes, Lewis will need time to adjust and get fit. Yes, there’s still a lot for him to prove, and there’s a chance we won’t see the same player as we did in 2020/21.
However, there’s also a chance we will, and that is exciting. This news might have been expected, it might have been hinted at, but for me, it does feel a little like a new signing.
Good luck Lewis.
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