Lincoln City director of football Jez George has hailed the ‘world-class’ pressing ability that Ben House has, whilst talking about possible January strengthening.
We recorded an exclusive podcast with Jez and Liam Scully last night, and one of the first questions was around our forward line. James Collins, our leading scorer, has been ruled out for the season, while Ben House will also miss eight weeks.
That has prompted some to believe we’ll be dipping into the transfer market, but as Jez revealed, that is unlikely to be the case.
“We think we’ve got three really good centre-forwards and we think that they have all got slightly different attributes,” he said on the podcast, which can also be found on YouTube.
“In terms of Freddie (Draper), primarily back to goal, real physicality, obviously, can get down the side to people as well.”
Freddie recently arrived at 100 appearances for the Imps, and was chosen to start as the nine against Barnsley, instead of Rob Street. However, having turned down a big bid for Street in the summer, the club also feel he has a role to play.
“Rob Street, pace power, has done a really important job for the team for a lot of this season out of position. I think he has one start as number nine in League One, he scored the winner against Stevenage in arguably our best home performance of the season.”
One criticism levelled at the Imps over the last few weeks, by me as much as anything, is Rob being deployed as a right winger, which doesn’t quite fit his attributes. Jez was happy to address that as well.
“We see loads to come from Rob. And we know he’s a number nine, not a right winger.”
Finally, the one loan player we know will remain with us for the rest of the season, Justin Obikwu, makes up the final member of our fit striking trio.
“Justin is a really exciting talent, pace in behind, goal threat. All three of them have slightly different attributes, but we think all three are very, very hard to improve on in this league. And I think any other club would like any one of those three.
“It’s a big opportunity for them.”
Ben House will return after the New Year break, and while not a dedicated number nine, Jez was keen to extol his virtues, claiming one element of his game is ‘world class’.
“Housey’s injury was a blow to us. Ben’s done a really good job in every other position. His pressing, it might be an exaggeration to say it, but I genuinely believe he’s a world-class presser. He’s absolutely outstanding without the ball.
“He’s created a little niche for himself coming in against Luton and scoring those couple of goals.”
The reference to House was to explain how our forward options might be dented by the loss of Collins, but not obliterated, and there is still a decision to be made around Frankie Okornkwo.
“It’s not like we don’t have forward options,” finished Jez. “We have Frankie at least till January, and we’ve got to see how he performs in the next six to eight games as well.
“Our trust is with those three to fight out for that number nine shirt between them.”
Which one gets the nod for tomorrow’s game against Blackpool remains to be seen.
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