Five Lincoln City Players Who Might See Promotion Affect Their Chances Next Season

Oisin Gallagher

Oisin is a really interesting one, because my gut feeling is he could be ready to step up again. He’s 21, and yet he’s had so much happen to him in his career. He’s shifted positions on numerous occasions, swapping between defence and midfield, and does so without drama for Boston United. He’s had a nasty injury, and fought back to become stronger for it. He’s made his Ireland Under-21 debut, and bagged a goal as well. He’s been an exciting prospect for a while now, but at 21, there is surely a feeling that prospect has to turn into player very soon.

I have zero doubt that, had he come back to a League One side, he’d have been given a chance and been a squad player next season. The League Cup and EFL Trophy could have delivered seven or eight matches, possibly, and he might have got some minutes from the bench as well. Is he top-end League One? Maybe, maybe not, but if we’re there and he’s ours, there is every chance we’d have given him an opportunity.

Now we’re second tier, I’m not sure that pathway is as clear. I could see him jumping from the National League to League One, but the Championship would have been too much. No, he needs a loan where he’s playing 90 minutes, week in, week out, in an EFL side. It’s that simple.

Here is the bold prediction: I think he could jump League Two. Think about it: Ireland Under-21, more than 2,000 minutes in a Boston side that has turned possible relegation into a late surge up the table, and swapping positions under managers with what looks like equal impact in both areas. He could add value at Bromley, or Burton, or another promoted team, no doubt.

I suspect we’ll want him to play as high as we can, because if his ceiling is as high as we think, in 12 months’ time, I’d like to be writing about where he fits into a Championship side.