Midfielder JJ McKiernan has officially returned to Lincoln City after his season-long loan at Burton Albion.
He was named on the Brewers’ retained list as now officially having returned to the club, leaving him at something of a crossroads. With two years left on his Imps deal, he will cost any admirers a fee, but has his form with Burton been enough toi coax a bid from a League One club? Or, will we see him as part of the squad as we stride into the second tier?
McKiernan is very much the forgotten man when it comes to Lincoln City, having been loaned out twice to the Brewers. Having signed a four-year deal with us after leaving Morecambe, he went to the Pirelli after just 300 minutes of League One football for the Imps, adding 1500 minutes wearing the colours of the Brewers. In terms of output, he bagged a goal and an assist, and was challenged with coming back to the Bank and having an impact.
He did not take up that challenge, instead taking guaranteed minutes over a battle for a first-team spot, according to his words later in the season. He played another 1500 minutes for them this season, again adding a goal and an assist in League One, but both came before a two-month lay-off. He’s struggled to find form after that injury, and returns to City unlikely to have raised his stock high enough to warrant a squad place with us next season.
We’re protected; he cost us a fee, and we will look to recoup. The nature of his second loan might make any redemption tough: at Burton’s request there was no recall clause in the winter window, and the interview JJ gave to their official channels did enrage Imps supporters. He said that the Imps wanted him to come back, but he wanted to go to Burton.
“I wanted to come back. Lincoln wanted me to have a go at fighting for my place in the team, get back into the swing of things, but I wanted to be at Burton,” he said.
He also confirmed League One interest in him last summer, but is that return at Burton enough for the same this season? Maybe for a promoted club coming up from League Two, looking for experience, but is he in Bromley’s price bracket, and would MK Dons or Cambridge be suitable in terms of location? He probably needs a Salford City or Chesterfield to come up through the play-offs, or indeed for Burton to come back in with a serious bid.
In terms of his Lincoln City career, I dare say it probably ended when he gave the interview saying he hadn’t wanted to come back. Of course, if he were there bagging goals and assists, it would make it easier to welcome him back, but could he step up in terms of Championship football? Also, given that Erik Ring stayed put, fought for his place in the team and is still likely to leave, would JJ McKiernan offer enough, having turned away from us when the chance was there?
I strongly suspect his return is, at this moment in time, on paper alone, and while we wouldn’t treat any players as an outcast, the chance of seeing JJ in a Lincoln shirt lining up against Stoke, QPR or Bristol City next season is very, very slim.
Comments Welcome!