Maheta Molango, a former Imp himself, is currently revolutionising the Professional Footballer’s Association.
One of the initiatives he has driven is gathering 30 free agents over the summer, putting them in a squad on a 10-week training programme, and putting them in the shop window for clubs to assess. The team is approaching the time when it plays a handful of friendlies, and no fewer than five former Imps are in the squad—two of those from last season’s side.
In one of the games yesterday, Stratford Town led 3-0 at the break, only to be pegged back to a 3-3 draw. In another fixture, Manchester United U21s take on the squad this afternoon, with some ex-Imps hoping to impress.
So, who are the five former Imps currently looking to wow the scouts and earn a deal as high as they can up the EFL? In order of the least recent onwards, we have:
Mustapha Carayol
It’s been more than 13 years since we saw a fleet-footed Carayol on the flank for the Imps. However, he’s had some career since, playing for Bristol Rovers, Middlesbrough, Brighton, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Apollon Limassol, Adana Demirspor, Gillingham and finally, Burton Albion.
He’s 35 now, but appeared against Stratford yesterday as he looks to secure a contract elsewhere in the EFL. Surely, a League Two team will see the value in the player, who has converted to a wing-back in recent seasons.
Jake Caprice
Caprice joined us in 2014 having been released by Blackpool, and despite being a capable right back, he left after a single season, turning out for Woking. He’s one who, like Jack Muldoon, it was perhaps felt had hit his level, only for him to prove most Imps fans wrong. He didn’t quite have the same fondess bestowed upon him as Muldoon though.
He’s since played 83 League One games across spells with Tranmere, Burton Albion and Exeter City, and at 31 is hunting his next challenge.
Max Melbourne
Technically, Max is a two-time Imp, having joined on loan before being signed permanently by Michael Appleton. He was then, rather oddly, only played 21 times across three seasons, having loan spells with Walsall and Stevenage. His final action in a City shirt saw him bag a last-gasp winner against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. Some finish.
The 25-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Morecambe, appearing as they beat us in the FA Cup. He’ll feature against Man Utd U21s this afternoon.
Hakeeb Adelakun
Thought I’d use an image of said Morecambe game, with a former Imp (Haks) taking on a future Imp (McKiernan). Poetry.
Poetry is what the Redemption of Haks felt like last season. If only he’d finished against Charlton, walked out of the Bank with his head held high. He’s in the PFA scheme, and he’s surely eyeing a League One move – he’s already turned down Doncaster this summer, so he must be looking up.
TJ Eyoma
It pains me to see TJ on this list. He’s one I really felt could have still be an asset to the squad, but I am a layman writing what I think is fact, rather than a coach working with the players every day.
There’s been mutterings he might rock up at Cambridge, and I do feel he’ll surface in our division. Of all the players on the list, he’s the one I think could, easily, perform regularly in the third tier.
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