Lincoln City midfielder Ethan Hamilton will be sidelined for the rest of the season, head coach Michael Skubala revealed to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Hamitlon has been absent since the Imps’ win against Exeter City on February, 17, and will now spend a longer stretch away from the pitch.
What has Michael Skubala said?
The Lincoln boss revealed the news in Thursday’s press conference to journalist Rob Makepeace, after Ethan Hamilton had a scan on his injury.
“It’s not good news. We know Ethan is going to be out for the season, so it’s pretty disappointing. I feel for him because he’s been brilliant for us this year. It’s not great, he’s done some menisci damage. So, at best we’ll see him in pre-season,” he said.
He added: “The reason we brought Conor [McGrandles] in was to try and bolster that area, so to loose Ethan quite early is not great. I feel for him because he’s been doing so well for the team and words hard for the team. He’s a great trainer and a great lad, but he’s going to be out for quite some time.”
“The scan didn’t go great and what they found wasn’t great, so we’re not going to see him for the rest of the season,” Skubala noted.
How much of a miss will Ethan Hamilton be?
Ethan Hamilton has been an ever-present in the Lincoln squad this season. He has featured in 37 games across all competitions, notching three goals and one assist along the way.
The 25-year-old joined the Imps in the summer, after two seasons at fellow SkyBet League One side Accrington Stanley.
His late winner at Leyton Orient helped Michael Skubala to record his first win as Lincoln head coach, in a tight 1-0 win.
The Scot’s others goals came earlier on in the season. One was the equaliser in a man of the match performance against Carlisle United and the other a second-half winner against Shrewsbury Town.
He is a player that performs in the big moments, so will be a big miss for Skubala’s in-form men.
Who will step up in Hamilton’s absence?
As the Imps head coach mentioned himself, Conor McGrandles was brought in on deadline day to add another body to the midfield ranks. The Charlton Athletic loanee has impressed so far, but may miss out on Saturday’s crunch-time visit of Stevenage.
Skubala said: “Conor is actually struggling a bit. He’s had to go for a scan today. He finished the game, but he’s touch and go. It could be something, or it could be nothing.”
The former Leeds United under-21s boss added that the club think McGrandles only has a “slight niggle”, but that the scan will show the full extent of the problem.
Hamilton’s fellow Ethan, Erhahon, has been another key player for Lincoln this season. He looks set to continue next to an in-form Ted Bishop, along with McGrandles if he passes his injury scan with flying colours.
Erhahon, Bishop and McGrandles are all capable of filling an Ethan Hamilton shaped hole in midfield, but the injury may cause a slight tweak in the Imps’ shape if another absentee is added in the centre of midfield.