Lincoln City could return to the transfer market following the serious injury suffered by captain Tendayi Darikwa, although Josh Honohan is expected to provide the immediate solution on the right.
The loss of Darikwa leaves a considerable gap in the side. He has been an important player, captain and leader during City’s rise into the Championship, and his absence will be felt beyond the position he occupies on the pitch.
Honohan is expected to play as the Imps adjust to life without their captain. He has been working his way back to fitness and offers Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw an existing option rather than forcing the head coaches into an immediate reshuffle involving several players.
However, with the transfer window approaching its conclusion, City must also decide whether the current squad contains enough cover for the months ahead. Darikwa is facing a lengthy absence, making this a question of sustained depth rather than finding a temporary answer for one or two fixtures.
Chris confirmed that discussions about recruitment have taken place when he told Imps+ about the options available to the coaching staff.
“Yeah, we have those conversations. We’ve obviously always had lists and got lists. We’ve got Josh Honohan coming back to fitness as well, who can play there, and other players, the Swiss Army knives, I think is what you call them, who can play multiple positions and can play there.
“We’ll assess what we think we need and go after the right targets.”
The reference to City’s “Swiss Army knives” is specifically aimed at Tom Hamer and Andrei Coubis, both of whom can play on the right-hand side. Across the squad, we have several versatile players who can operate in more than one role, giving them scope to cover the position without making a signing solely in response to Darikwa’s injury.
That flexibility means the club do not have to rush into a deal, but time is not on our side. The window closes on Tuesday, annoyingly on a matchday, and while City have maintained recruitment lists throughout the summer, Chris’s comments still suggest any move will be based on the quality and suitability of the available targets.
Honohan now has an opportunity to make the position his own after his six-figure move from Shamrock Rovers. If he comes through his continued return to action without difficulty, the need for another specialist option may feel less urgent, particularly if the coaching staff are comfortable using other members of the squad as cover.
Even so, Darikwa’s injury has inevitably altered the calculations being made behind the scenes. City have lost an established starter for a substantial period, and the final days of the window offer their last straightforward opportunity to add reinforcements.
Chris stopped short of promising another arrival, but he made it clear that the conversations are happening. The immediate answer may be Honohan, while the longer-term response will depend on whether City believe the right target is available to back up the Ireland international.
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