Lincoln City have addressed their current goal scoring drought by recruiting young Celtic striker Ben Hutchinson on a season-long loan deal.
The 22-year-old frontman scored two goals for the Glaswegian giants in their 4-1 pre-season victory over the Imps last month.
It is that kind of performance, coupled with the Imps’ shortage of forwards and poor start to the season, which has tempted manager Chris Sutton to entice the former Middlesbrough man south of the border.
Hutchinson began his career at lowly Arnold Town but his raw talent was enough to convince Steve McClaren to take the Nottingham-born striker to the Premier League. He started just one game for the Teesside club in three seasons but impressed the coaching staff at the Riverside Stadium and scored on his league debut against Manchester City.
With his contract running out at Boro, and club bosses unable to agree terms with the promising striker, the then Scottish champions Celtic were quick to pounce and hastily agreed terms with the player.
Hutchinson has made only five appearances for the Bhoys, all from the substitutes’ bench, meaning he has had to settle for short term loan moves in order to achieve first team football. He spent the first half of last season on loan at League One Swindon Town where he scored one goal in 10 appearances. The striker then signed for Dundee in February this year, where he played until the end of the season.
Imps fans will undoubtedly be delighted with the arrival of Hutchinson who should be seen as an exciting coup for the club. They will be hoping he hits the ground running as Sutton’s side currently prop up the basement division of the Football League. The striker is bound to go straight into City’s starting eleven which will face Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium on Saturday, August, 21st.