Tom Hopper

I’m certain this wasn’t a name you thought you’d see on here, but Tom Hopper could be like a new signing for us this season. Despite Hops being on a long-term contract, his Imps career has been a bit stop/start. He took a bit of time to settle in 2020, scoring twice against Burton before the season was curtailed. He had his admirers (and critics) during the 2020/21 play-off season, but in truth, had he not gotten injured, we might have got over the line automatically.

Last season was a complete write-off for Hops; he never got going, and when he came back from a long-term injury, he was a long way off his usual self. This summer, he’s had a full pre-season and can perhaps get back to the form he showed during much of the 2020/21 campaign. If he does, then the striker we need to lead the line and influence the younger players need not be a new recruit. The key with Hops is getting him fit, to the point where he can play every Saturday for 85 minutes. We know what he does, and if the likes of Charley Kendall and Ben House are going to fill in the gaps and find space, then a forward like Hops is perfect foil for them.