While Lincoln City prepare for tomorrow’s title clash at Cardiff City, Imps loanee MJ Kamson-Kamara is fighting for the same accolade over in Northern Ireland with Glentoran.
A third straight win on Tuesday evening was secured thanks to Imps’ loanee, scoring an invaluable goal to move them up to second spot in the NIFL Premiership.
A five-point gap to leaders Larne, with a game in hand, means the title race is far from over, though it would be a huge surprise to see Glentoran steal it with three games remaining.
Following that crucial intervention in midweek, the Glens gaffer Tim McCann has spoken about the potential of signing MJ on a permanent deal.
After signing his first professional contract with the Imps on his 17th birthday, the earliest opportunity to do so, the London-born centre-half has played senior football with Barwell and Peterborough Sports. He enjoyed successful stints with both sides, adding over 50 matches to his solitary Imps appearance. That came in last season’s edition of the EFL Trophy, playing the final 19 minutes in a late City victory at Grimsby Town.
Over in Northern Ireland, Kamson-Kamara initially struggled to break into Glentoran’s side, making a handful of substitute appearances in the opening months of the season. But December proved to be a turning point, starting almost every league outing since the final month of 2025. The 20-year-old has helped keep five clean sheets since edging past Linfield on Boxing Day, scoring his first goal for the club against Portadown in their next fixture.
Goalscoring has become part of his game in the last week, netting in successive victories over Crusaders and Carrick Rangers, while keeping two shutouts in three appearances. MJ should be in action again tonight, as the Cock & Hens host Larne in the Irish Cup Quarter Finals. Alongside their three remaining league matches, they have further domestic responsibilities next Sunday, facing Linfield in the Northern Irish League Cup Final.
Glentoran manager McCann commented on the possibility of keeping Kamson-Kamara at the club permanently.
“That would be the plan. You’d be obviously looking to do that…we’re looking at his loan and seeing what happens there. I think it’s something that the club’s probably already looking at. He has been fantastic.
“For such a young guy, 20 years of age, he’s playing like a seasoned pro. He’s great to have around the club. He’s got an old head on young shoulders.”
Where Would He Fit In At The Imps?
Promotion would massively limit any first-team opportunities for Kamson-Kamara and any of the young Imps next season. One of the minor disadvantages of playing Championship football is losing the ability to give youngsters and fringe players a run-out in the EFL Trophy. And while Lincoln would still enter the League Cup at the first round stage, that is the only domestic competition we would feature in until the start of 2027.
With the news of Tom Hamer extending his Imps contract breaking earlier today, there doesn’t appear to be a clear pathway to the first team for MJ at the moment. Having penned his first and only deal with the Imps just over three years ago, it feels likely that we could have an option to extend that deal this summer. Given his form at Glentoran this season, that feels like something that we would definitely take up. Of course, this is all just speculation, and we don’t know how long his contract was when he signed.
Another loan move would look to be the best bet for him going forward next season, and then it will likely be crunch time in terms of his long-term City future.