Two senior first-team players could feature on the bench tomorrow night as Bradford City visit the Bank for a top-of-the-table encounter.
A win for the Imps would see us go nine points clear of the Bantams, albeit with them having played a game fewer. If we lose, the gap will be just three points, and there will still be that game in hand. It is the very definition of a six-pointer, and the City bench will look very different.
We went to Luton Town with two keepers on the bench, Bola Okewoye, who was recalled to make up the numbers, and Lewis Montsma who hasn’t featured in the league all season. Tomorrow night, we’ll have Alfie Lloyd, with League One experience this season, Deji Elerewe, a senior player at the table-topping Bromley, and now, two more faces.
As Michael Skubala explained in his press conference, we could see Ben House and Tom Bayliss make their returns from injury.
“We’ve got some good news,” said Michael in his pre-match interview. “Housey and Bayliss could make the squad, so they’re very close.”
Tom has been out since Boxing Day, when a crude challenge ended his game against Stockport at half time, while Ben House has only played one game of our recent unbeaten run, the 1-0 win against Port Vale on November 29th. Both will be welcomed back into the side, but will have a fight on their hands after some fine performances from the squad.
A handful of other players are still out, and Michael gave an update on those as well.
“Oscar (Thorn) and Jacko aren’t quite making the squad, but they’ll be on team training next week. So that’s great news as well with that.”
News that Oscar Thorn, something of an unknown quantity, is going to be fit is pretty big, while Jacko comes back into a side with increased competition for places in his right centre back role, in the form of Deji.
“Josh (Honohan) is going to have his scan this week to see how he’s progressing,” added Michael. “So we feel like we’re starting to get some bodies back that have been injured, plus some of the new signings. In some ways, it feels like Housey and Bayliss are a new signing as well, and they’re buzzing to get going and
“They’re like kids that have just started, outside with training with the group, so it’s good to see them back out there.”
While it is unlikely either would start, 20 minutes off the bench for either in the latter stages will be massive, and when you consider the new faces, and three more waiting to make a return, we’re looking to be in a really good place for these crucial 19 fixtures.
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