The Imps’ pre-season preparations are well underway – even if supporters haven’t had much chance to see them in action yet.
With a string of behind-closed-doors friendlies and some key players still absent, the opening weeks of July have raised almost as many questions as answers.
Three games into pre-season, and James Collins already looks every inch the talisman many hoped he would be. Goals against Hull City and Leicester City’s U21s underlined his threat, while his presence is becoming the spark around which Michael Skubala is shaping his front line. But who plays around him – and in what shape – is still up for debate.
The first two friendlies, against Hull and Leicester U21s, took place behind closed doors. While this limited supporter insight, it hasn’t stopped speculation. Trialists featured prominently, especially in full-back positions, hinting at gaps that still need filling. The absence of a recognised left-back remains an ongoing concern, with Ryley Towler’s arrival not fully quelling those fears. Based on the reported line-ups, it’s likely that at least two full-back trialists have been involved so far.
Wider attacking areas also appear fluid at present. Erik Ring is one of the few natural attacking wide players available, and while Jovan Makama, Reeco Hackett, and even Rob Street have been floated as potential wide options, all three have also featured in other positions. Zane Okoro remains a wildcard – full of promise, but still raw.
Tom Hamer’s omission from the Leicester fixture raised some eyebrows, though he did play 45 minutes against Hull, suggesting it may have been a precaution. As a player expected to be central to the team’s defensive structure this season, his continued presence through pre-season is important, even if minutes are being carefully managed.
More notably absent is Ben House. Once considered indispensable, House is yet to appear this summer. Injury is the likeliest explanation, but Skubala hasn’t confirmed anything. What’s perhaps more interesting is that even if fit, House is no longer guaranteed a starting place. In most hypothetical XIs, he’s now seen as a situational player – used for his pressing and energy against stronger sides, but not necessarily the first choice for many fixtures. It’s a reflection of the depth and balance being built in this squad.
The pre-season has also featured a mix of tactical experimentation and youth involvement. Several trialists – including former academy prospect Connor Brown – have had chances to impress, particularly in the full-back roles. Their usage in matches against Lincoln United and Leicester U21s shows that recruitment is still very much alive in these areas.
Skubala has rotated heavily, and early signs suggest a back four will remain his preferred structure. The wide attacking roles are clearly under scrutiny, with Okoro and Makama getting minutes, while Street appears to have been tested in various positions, including potentially wide right, although that is speculation purely from teamsheets, rather than an eye test. None of this is unusual for July, but it confirms the manager is still working out who fits best where, and in what combinations.
For all the questions still hanging in the air – and there are a few – our transfer strategy appears calm and coherent. With just two signings so far, it’s tempting to assume more activity is coming. But the reality may be a more subtle reshaping. If an expected five young players head out on loan (Parks, Okewoye, Gallagher, Kamara and Pardington) and one more full-back is signed, the club could go into the season with a functional squad of 23 or 24 players. After that, one might assume it’s a ‘one in, one out’ system.
The West Brom friendly at Sincil Bank is the first chance we’ll get to see the lads in action at home, while trips to Grimsby and Portugal will give players more minutes. After that, fans will have a clearer sense of how Skubala’s ideas are taking shape – and whether the absence of Ben House is a blip or a sign of a changing hierarchy.
Either way, the signs so far suggest that pre-season is about cohesion, not chaos. And for a club looking to push on in 2024/25, that’s no bad thing.
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