Lincoln City Summer Trialist Trains With Local Non-League Outfit

Credit Graham Burrell

Lincoln City summer trialist Fejiri Okenabirhie has been training with Scunthorpe United as he searches for his next club.

The 30-year-old forward appeared for the Imps during pre-season, featuring in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Doncaster Rovers. He was one of several unattached players used as City attempted to give minutes to members of the senior squad while assessing possible additions.

Okenabirhie has now linked up with National League side Scunthorpe, alongside former Bradford City and Burton Albion midfielder Levi Sutton.

Iron manager Andy Butler confirmed the pair had been training with his squad, although he stopped short of suggesting that either player would be offered a contract.

“If I think they can improve us then it’ll be a conversation further down the line,” Butler told BBC Humberside Sport.

Lincoln City trial

Okenabirhie played for the Imps in the pre-season fixture against Doncaster, but his performance did not suggest he was likely to become a permanent addition at Sincil Bank.

He looked short of the sharpness required to compete at Championship level, most notably when he was released into space during the second half but could not turn the opportunity into a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

That did not necessarily make the trial a wasted exercise for either party. City needed players to help complete the side, while Okenabirhie gained valuable minutes and the opportunity to place himself in front of watching clubs. His latest spell with Scunthorpe may now serve a similar purpose.

The forward has considerable experience across the EFL and non-league game. After beginning his development with Arsenal and Stevenage, he had loan spells with Bedford Town, Farnborough, Cambridge City and Royston Town before rebuilding his career with Harrow Borough.

He scored 19 league goals across two seasons with Dagenham and Redbridge, earning a move back into the Football League with Shrewsbury Town in 2018. His first campaign with the Shrews proved particularly productive as he finished with 16 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions.

Okenabirhie subsequently represented Doncaster Rovers and Cambridge United. He scored 13 times in 44 league appearances for Doncaster, although a serious Achilles injury disrupted his time at the club and contributed to him missing the entirety of the 2021/22 season.

He later joined Cambridge, scoring five league goals in 38 appearances before leaving in the summer of 2024. His most recent move took him overseas to Egyptian Premier League side Modern Sport, where he registered one goal in 16 league outings.

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