There will be a huge amount of debate over the coming weeks about which Imps are capable of playing regularly in the Championship.
Right now, I can’t rule any out, certainly not any who have played a significant role over the last 24 games. Maybe a couple will depart, JJ McKiernan is unlikely to come back into a promoted side to reap the rewards earned by the team he turned his back on in August. Of the others, almost everyone is capable of playing the way we want to play, a style that will not change as we move up a division.
We’ll all debate that, but lying in bed last night, I started compiling a list of players that I felt would have the tools to perform and thrive in the Championship. I did a piece on Ben House the other day, his skills are transferable in any style. If you missed it, I feel he will adapt to the Championship because the core of his game is not reliant on technical dominance, but on attributes that translate across levels.
Why Ben House Will Thrive
His pressing, energy, and tactical intelligence are already elite within League One, and those qualities do not diminish when the standard rises. Knowing when to engage defenders, how to close passing lanes, and how to force turnovers are universal skills, and House executes them better than almost any forward in the division. His numbers back that up, leading attackers and even many defenders for defensive duels per 90, which highlights just how central he is to the way we play. That ability to disrupt, harry, and lead the line without the ball will remain just as valuable against stronger opposition.
Just as importantly, his role within the system is already built for a step up. Our approach under Michael Skubala is based on organisation, work rate, and collective discipline, all traits that are essential for survival in the Championship. House embodies those principles more than anyone else in the forward line, offering a level of consistency in application that does not depend on form or finishing streaks.
While he may not be the most prolific scorer, his contribution goes far beyond goals, and that makes him uniquely suited to bridging the gap between divisions. In a league where margins are tight and structure is key, players who can execute a game plan relentlessly are invaluable, and House looks perfectly equipped to do exactly that.
That’s one, but what of the other four? I actually got to more than four, but I’ve narrowed it down for the purpose of the article.
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