Solving Michael Skubala issue means Lincoln City will see January as a success | OneFootball

Lincoln City knew exactly what they wanted when they headed into the winter transfer window.

Lincoln City knew exactly what they wanted when they headed into the winter transfer window.

The order of the month (and a bit) was experience, and they delivered just that with a duo of signings. First came the return of Sam Clucas, heading back to Sincil Bank after making his sole appearance for the club back in a 2009 EFL Trophy game against Darlington.

The 34-year-old has yet to feature for Lincoln, instead trying to get up to speed with Sky Bet League One after spending the first half of the season in non-league with Oldham Athletic.

Then came the big signing of the window: James Collins. Also a 34-year-old, the Derby County frontman joined the Imps and made an instant impact, adding exactly what head coach Michael Skubala wanted to his team.

A former Republic of Ireland international and EFL promotion winner, Collins has added a know-how and aptitude to Lincoln’s faltering frontline. City’s head coach had called for that profile of player and has made full use of his new recruit since he put pen to paper.

James Collins is the experience Lincoln City needed

Collins became the oldest Lincoln signing since 36-year-old goalkeeper Matt Gilks joined the club from Scunthorpe United during the 2018/19 campaign. Centre-back Jason Shackell was brought in from Derby that season too, who was the same age as Collins when he made the switch last month.

The Imps had not signed a player over the age of 30 since winger Chris Maguire in 2021/22 when Tendayi Darikwa returned to England last summer.

The Collins transfer, therefore, went against the club’s ethos of buying young and selling on later, while director of football Jez Goerge was at pains to reassure fans that Lincoln’s transfer model remained intact.

It was a transfer that City needed to make and one that they had to admit they required. In doing so they opened the door to real success, with Collins already netting twice in his first three appearances.

A successful January transfer window

The window has been a success for Lincoln. Most importantly, because Collins filled the desperate void of experience at the top end of the pitch. The Imps already had a wealth of young and talented forwards, all with potential, but lacked the guidance off the field – and on it.

The seasoned EFL forward has given City just that, making for a window that ticked the boxes as a whole.

Clucas cannot be judged yet given the fact he has yet to play for Lincoln, but he has surely provided knowledge off the field already. Even without playing himself, Clucas will be able to add experience to the midfield rank at the Elite Performance Centre. He can be a positive influence with his know-how, making him a successful transfer too.

The third addition was Joe Gardner, who switched the youth team at Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest for his first experience of EFL football. The attacker is more of the archetypal signing for Lincoln, someone who has a lot of space to grow and the majority of his career in front of him rather than behind.

Keeping club captain Paudie O’Connor has been central to Lincoln’s successful transfer window but it is solving their need for experience, particularly with the signing of Collins, that will leave them heading into the second half of the season feeling positive.