City began their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win against Preston North End in Spain yesterday.
It was an early glimpse of Skubala’s Imps, a side now with his influence beginning to ooze from everything they do. His players are coming in, and he’s having time on the training ground getting them moulded into the team he wants. All City fans should be excited about that.
However, fans did note a handful of absences. Reeco Hackett missed the game, as did Ethan Hamilton, who is still on the comeback trail from last season. Finally, Tyler Walker was spotted wearing a foot brace, which was concerning. He missed most of last season, making a comeback on the final day against Portsmouth.
It’s understandable that fans’ hearts sank when they heard the news, but as yet, the severity of the injury is unclear. Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, head coach Michael Skubala explained what was happening with the former Nottingham Forest striker.
“He’s had a phenomenal attitude to pre-season and post-pre and before pre-season,” said Michael. “He’s been out here, he’s been training well, and then he’s just rolled his ankle.
“We don’t know what it is yet. I’ll be honest with you, we’ve got to scan him when we get back Monday. We don’t want to do it here. So he’s walking around with a boot as people have seen, but it might be something, it might be nothing, we just don’t know.”
Fans fearing it might be a flare-up of his previous injury, which saw him ruled out from September until the final game of the season, shouldn’t be worried. Whilst any injury to a player causes concern, Michael explained this isn’t related to his previous problems.
“He’s just been unlucky. It’s not the same injury. So, you know, it’s just unlucky for him, but he’s in a good spot. So hopefully, it’s not too bad, but we honestly don’t know at this point.”
Walker joined the Imps last season after a three-season stint with Coventry City for a fee believed to be around £800,000. He bagged ten goals in 68 Championship games but had a couple of injury-hit campaigns before his return to Sincil Bank.
Fans are hoping to see a glimpse of the old Tyler Walker, a player who netted 16 goals in 34 outings during a loan spell in the 2019/20 season. However, he appeared just seven times in total last season, starting just three matches.
As for the other two, there is still a wait. Hamilton, who last appeared in our 1-0 win against Exeter City, is still some way away from full fitness.
“The rehab boys, I wanted to bring them out here because they’re part of the group. I didn’t want them staying at home training when the others lads are out here, it’s important for me that they’re in this environment.
“Ethan is quite a way off still but he’s out here around the lads. He’s enjoying the gym with the rehab staff and it’s important we keep everyone connected who’s part of us – that’s why he’s here.”
Seeing Reeco out was also disappointing – he only started 28 matches in an injury-hit campaign, the last of which was our 1-0 win at Oxford that gave us hope in the play-off hunt.
“Reeco îs a bit closer,” confirmed Michael. “He’s on the grass running. He’s not quite into contact, but he’s looking good.”
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