Eaden joined by loan duo

By Nathan Jackson
November 23 2006

Nicky Eaden is not the only loan signing today as he has been joined by ex-Imp Shane Nicholson and Birmingham's Matt Birley. It's been 12 years since Nicholson left Sincil Bank and the youngster player to ever represent City at professional level has a wealth of experience to bring with him.

Nicholson, who left City for Derby County in 1992, has also never returned to this level, more often than not appearing in what was then Division 1 (now the Championship) with West Brom, Sheffield United and Stockport all having his services whilst in English football's second tier. A move to transfer followed before in the summer before 2004/5, Keith Alexander offered Nicholson (an several other ex-Imps) a chance to return to Sincil Bank but like all the others, with the exception of Dean West, he rejected the chance and ended up moving to Chesterfield.

The other player to join the Imps is someone who the vast majority of Lincoln fans will have never heard off despite once playing in the Premiership. Matt Birley has struggled to gain a first team place at Championship side Birmingham City after coming up through their youth system. He has only ever played 3 games for Birmingham, 2 of those in the cup but the game in the League was against Chelsea when he replaced Emile Heskey.

Both are expected to in the squad for Saturday's game at Wrexham.