Michael Skubala should consider these 2 signings to solve Lincoln City issue | OneFootball

There is one obvious gap in the current Lincoln City squad, with the situation at left-back yet to be resolved.

There is one obvious gap in the current Lincoln City squad, with the situation at left-back yet to be resolved.

Sean Roughan left the club at the end of his contract, swapping the LNER Stadium for Huddersfield Town in a move that saw Lincoln receive a compensation fee. He played every minute of both Sky Bet League One and Emirates FA Cup matches for the Imps last term, and will be sorely missed, not least for his reliability.

His presence as a mainstay on the left side of defence was a safety net for Michael Skubala's team, with his qualities going forward also a major boost.

With the start of the new season just around the corner, Lincoln are yet to sign a like-for-like replacement. The closest they have got to filling the big shoes of Roughan is the signing of Portsmouth defender Ryan Towler, but he is much better suited to the left-side of central defence as opposed to the flanks.

The City head coach has hinted that there may be an adaptability to the left-back position in the squad, with Towler pegged as an option.

If they were to go down the option of signing an out-and-out left-back, then here are two players who could fit the bill.

Josh Ruffles

Josh Ruffles is without a club since leaving Huddersfield this summer, and could be a direct switch to replace Roughan from the very team he joined.

The 31-year-old can also play centrally, providing a versatility that Lincoln often seem keen to add to their squad, allowing players to cover for others and better prepare for the eventuality of injuries.

He has played over 200 games at League One level, with Oxford United also on his resume, since advancing through the youth ranks at Coventry City.

After joining Huddersfield in 2021, Ruffles has not found himself as a consistent feature of the Terriers squad. He played 33 times in the 2022/23 campaign, but managed the same amount combined across the two seasons that followed.

The experienced left-back has multiple League One play-off campaigns on his CV, as well as seasons in the Championship, and would allow a different sort of profile to Roughan.

The Imps have recruited experience over recent transfer windows, with the likes of Tendayi Darikwa and James Collins becoming main features. Ruffles would add to that list and provide a proven and safe pair of hands at left-back for Skubala's side.

Zack Nolan

At the other end of the experience spectrum is teenager Zack Nolan. He has been on trail with Lincoln this summer, as originally reported by fan website Stacey West Blog.

The pacey left-back appeared alongside Marcel Lavinier during the Imps' pre-season campaign, and could fit the bill of the left side of defence.

If Skubala goes down the route of being adaptable, then an option like the youthful Nolan would be sensible. He could learn from the older heads in the side, such as Adam Jackson and new recruit Sonny Bradley, while himself providing a more energetic option at left-back.

The 19-year-old made 32 league appearances in the League of Ireland last season, catching the eye with his electric pace at Bray Wanderers. He clocked an immense 35km/h during a match, and could provide a more attacking option at left-back for the Imps.

That would help replace the void left by Roughan's exit this summer, adding a defensive sparkle as well as a willingness to get forward and join in on the attacking end. A move for Nolan is not a pipe dream either, with the Imps routinely dipping into the Irish market and placing a focus on developing young talent in their transfer strategy.

It remains a puzzle that Skubala needs to solve before the transfer window slams shut, with Ruffles and Nolan presenting very different, yet both potentially useful options.