Lincoln City head coach Tom Shaw confirmed cramp was behind Ivan Varfolomeev’s withdrawal during the Imps’ 6-0 defeat against West Ham United.
The Imps had been reduced to ten men after Tom Hamer’s dismissal in the third minute, before Conor McGrandles was also sent off in the 23rd. That left Varfolomeev and his remaining teammates facing a considerable workload against a West Ham side who eventually scored five times after the interval.
The midfielder was replaced by Tom Bayliss in the 73rd minute after appearing to hold his hamstring. Asked about the midfielder’s condition, Tom pointed to the effort he had put into the performance. Even with City facing such difficult circumstances, the head coach felt Ivan had continued to make my presence felt.
“Yeah, a bit of cramp, I think, which doesn’t surprise me,” Tom told the written press.
“His work ethic was phenomenal. Even in that very tough situation, he was trying to influence the game.”
Shaw’s praise also extended to Varfolomeev’s character and the example he sets within the squad. On a night when City spent so long chasing possession and trying to contain the visitors, his commitment clearly stood out to the coaching staff.
“He’s an incredible young man and epitomises Lincoln City and what we’re trying to be.”
The 22-year-old has enjoyed considerable progress since arriving from Slovan Liberec in August 2025. Having previously played for Rukh Lviv in Ukraine, he established himself at Sincil Bank and was named City’s Young Player of the Season after helping the Imps win the League One title in his first campaign.
That progress has continued this season, with a new contract keeping him at City until 2030 and recognition at senior international level. After receiving his first Ukraine call-up in September, Varfolomeev made his debut against Hungary earlier this month, coming off the bench in the Nations League fixture.
Attention now turns to recovery and preparation for the trip to Millwall, with City needing to respond quickly to a bruising result. With McGrandles now suspended for a couple of games, it’s likely Ivan will be pressed into action, potentially alongside Yunus Konak, who impressed in his cameo.
Ivan Varfolomeev — where he played this match. Brighter areas are where he spent most time; he is attacking left to right.
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