Lincoln City could welcome Ben House back into the squad for Saturday’s Championship clash with Southampton, while Tom Hamer is still ‘close’.
The pair missed Tuesday night’s draw with Blackburn Rovers, but Chris Cohen has delivered a positive update on both players. House appears to be the more likely of the two to feature against Southampton, although a decision must still be made over whether he is ready to start.
“They’re both close,” said Chris in his pre-match press conference.
“House’s scan came back really positively. It’s just the choice of whether he plays or he comes onto the bench.
“Tom Hamer’s a little bit further away, but again, we’re talking about days more than weeks and weeks. So, it’s just about reintegrating him at the right time as well.
“So yeah, not far away. But as I said the other day, we were really content with the performance and the squad as well. So, it’s going to be a selection headache for me and Tom, which is what every manager and head coach wants.”
Chris and Tom Shaw may also soon have another experienced defender available to them, with Sonny Bradley having returned to full training. Bradley has been working with the group for more than a week, but his lack of pre-season minutes means City will take a cautious approach.
“Yep, Sonny’s been training with us, so yeah, he’s been back with the group for over a week now. But like we were just saying about Ben and Tom, it’s about making sure, he’s missed a decent chunk of time and obviously missed quite a few pre-season games.
“So, we’ve just got to make sure that we get that balance right for Sonny. He was so important, integral to the season that we had last year, and we’re really excited to get him back in. But as always, it’s making sure that we do right by Sonny and don’t rush that process.”
The prospect of House returning this weekend is particularly welcome, while Hamer and Bradley both appear to be edging closer. With City facing a demanding run of matches, including trips to Southampton and Bournemouth, having all three available again would add important depth to the squad.
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