Luck has not been on the side of Lincoln City’s Dutch defender Lewis Montsma. After moving to the LNER Stadium in 2020 and showing huge promise, he has suffered two back-to-back ACL injuries that saw him miss a significant amount of time to recover.
The Imps are a side known for how well they treat their players, and rather than cut their losses, they continued to support and help Montsma regain his fitness. However, despite being fully fit for some time now, game time has not been easy to come by with the likes of Tom Hamer and Sonny Bradley impressing for the
Championship-chasing club.
In an exclusive by
The Stacey West, quoting the club’s official media, Sporting Director Jez George revealed that the player may be allowed to leave this window to secure more minutes on the pitch.
“The one player we need to be open about is Lewis Montsma,”
“He’s been here longer than anyone, come back from two ACL injuries, and we’re proud of how the club’s looked after him.
“He’s fit and training every day, but he wants to play football. With the depth we have, it’s right to help Lewis find a club where he can play regularly.”
Now, attention will likely turn to where the player’s next destination will be as he looks to reignite his career.
Shrewsbury Town
Perhaps the obvious choice for those who have been following Lincoln City for some time. Lewis Montsma was signed for
Lincoln City under Michael Appleton’s reign. He went on to appear 75 times, scoring an impressive 10 goals from central defence.
Shrewsbury are in desperate need of reinforcements; they have conceded the joint fourth most goals this season, whilst also struggling to score at the other end.
Montsma’s ability to get on the end of corners and free kicks could prove invaluable in a relegation battle, and his ability to progress the ball fits into the former Imp’s boss’s tactics perfectly. The only question mark will be whether he will be willing to drop down into a struggling side in
League Two.Burton Albion
Remaining in League One could be an option.
Gary Bowyer’s Burton Albion have already had some success from taking a player struggling to get into Lincoln City’s side in JJ McKiernan. This is a different situation, though, like Shrewsbury Town, the club are in need of reinforcements to maintain their third tier status. The club records 10.5 free kicks per game and 4.8 corners per game, but no defender has scored more than one goal in the league this season. Montsma’s aerial threat could be a real bonus whilst trying to overcome opponents that dominate possession.
Colchester United
Another manager with connections to Lincoln City. Danny Cowley has had success from reigniting the careers of players who have suffered with injuries, which has caused them to drop to a level perhaps below their where they should be. Had it not been for Lewis Montsma’s injury, there is certainly an argument to be made that he could have been playing
Championship football. There were plenty of reports at the time suggesting he was being monitored by clubs in the second tier.
The former Imps’ boss may see Montsma as an opportunity to get a player who has already proved he has what it takes at
League One level. His threat from set pieces is also another tool the club can utilise going forward. Despite having an average of 14 free kicks per game and four corners, The U’s have only scored two headed goals in League Two this season. Something that will likely frustrate the Cowley brothers.
Grimsby Town
David Artell’s side have one of the highest dribbles attempted from defenders per game at 16.25. As a ball-carrying defender, Montsma could slot in well. One of his best attributes is receiving the ball from the goalkeeper and progressing up the field to find an attacking outlet. The 27-year-old is also settled in Lincolnshire, having moved to the area in 2020 from the Netherlands, so a short trip up the road to Cleethorpes will not be too much disruption to his life in a different country.
Back to the Netherlands
Another option could be to return to his home in the Netherlands. After a few difficult years, it might be time to return to a familiar environment to build up his career again and earn himself another move.
Where Next for Lewis Montsma after Lincoln City?
It is clear that Lewis Montsma has a huge amount of talent. The two back-to-back ACL injuries would have been enough to sink the career of some players. But the Dutchman has shown a tremendous amount of resilience to not only regain his fitness but continue fighting. A huge amount of credit must go to Lincoln City for their stance on player welfare.
At 27 years old, he is now at a stage where he needs to be playing regularly, to regain his confidence and to make up for lost time. A step down into League Two will perhaps give him the best opportunity and working alongside the manager who got the best out of him in Michael Appleton, could work well for both club and player.
