Michael Skubala has admitted he knows his preferred front two as we head into the game against Stockport County, expressing frustration they haven’t been able to play together.
The Imps have shipped six goals in three matches, scoring just once, and faced criticism for being lacklustre in front of goal against Crawley. With Jovon Makama injured, and Ben House only just returning, we’ve been unable to play a settle front two, which hasn’t been ideal.
Despite signing England Under 20 Bailey Cadamarteri, scorer against Birmingham City, Michael revealed he hasn’t been able to play his preferred front two in recent weeks, hinting and a Jovon and Ben House strike partnership.
“So I know my front two, if I’m honest,” he said in yesterday’s press conference. “I know who the best two are, but they’re not always available for selection at the moment.
“That doesn’t mean the others can’t have an effect and that doesn’t mean they can’t get into that too. They have to score goals and be more threatening in front of goal for me.”
Both Draper and Cadamarteri have a brace for the Imps, coming across five shared starts. Jovon and Ben House have also shared four goals across their 17 combined starts. However, Michael confessed he does need all of his strikers as we move into the autumn period.
“We’re in a situation where we need them, we need all of them. And there’s no reason why someone can’t do well, score and be part of that. I’m more than happy with their contribution in the overall game, but I think we need to be more threatening in the box and more threatening with a nine, whoever plays.”
Many expected Sheffield Wednesday loanee Cadamarteri to play more regularly, as he’s been restricted to just three League One starts. Michael addressed that, saying his game has to adapt depending on who he partners up top.
“Bailey’s still new to us and still trying to grow. When he plays with Freddie, or with Ben, it’s slightly different. And when Jovan’s in, or when House is there, again, it’s different, but House has been out for a bit, Jovan’s been out for a bit, Freddie’s gotten up to speed, been in and out, same with Bailey.
“But they’re all contributing, which is the most important thing. We ask a lot of them. I think they just need to be a little bit more threatening for us.”
The Imps now have a chance to show a bit more threat in front of goal. After last weekend’s tough encounter with Birmingham, the trip to Crawley was hugely disappointing, but home games against Stockport and Northampton offer the Imps a chance to make a real statement and, hopefully, get back to winning ways.
That said, Michael might still be without one of the strikers who appears to be preferred. Jovon is ‘touch and go’ for the Stockport clash, while Rob Street is also struggling with an injury sustained in training.
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