Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen has spoken about the difficulty of leaving players out as competition for places in our squad continues, insisting everyone will have a part to play this season.
Following our 1-0 win at Bristol City, I asked Chris about the absence of Josh Honohan, Callum Elder and Ethan Wheatley, and whether their omissions were down to selection or injury.
While he did not give an individual update on each player, he highlighted the challenge of managing opportunities and indicated Mason Melia faces a longer spell out, as we knew.
“We’re just all very close. Obviously Mason Melia’s out for a little bigger period of time,” he said.
“It’s so difficult. It’s the most difficult part of the job, the bit that we were probably least looking forward to in terms of some people missing out, some people playing, and then there’s probably a few boys on the bench who haven’t got the grass time or the pitch time that they want.
“But as we’ve just said before, this whole season is going to be so demanding of every single player.”
Three successive away victories in the league have given us plenty to celebrate, but there are inevitably players waiting for their chance while others help deliver those results. For Chris and Tom, balancing that frustration with the demands of Championship football is part of the job.
Chris stressed that a lack of involvement now should not be taken as an indication of how important someone could become as the campaign progresses.
“We’re so early into it, seven games into a 46-game season, that we know we’re going to need everyone.
“We absolutely trust everyone that’s been brought into the football club. Some have had loads of opportunities, some have had some, some have not had the opportunity they probably want. But they’ll be massive players for us, I have absolutely no doubt in that over the course of a 46-game season.”
Perhaps Ethan Wheatley is one we can understand being left out, but Josh Honohan is the player City fans are eager to see. he was widely expected to press Tendayi Darikwa for a starting spot, but is currently behind Dom Jefferies and new signing Daniel Oyegoke in the pecking order.
The harsh reality is that we can only pick a finite number of players, and when everyone is fit, players miss out. However, one or two injuries, and those players will be pushed forward and given an opportunity to take thier chance.
Comments Welcome!