Andrei Coubis

Coubiș defends the way his physical profile suggests he should, winning the ball in the air first and using his pace to recover ground second, rather than relying on the kind of reading of the game that only comes with years in senior football. That combination of jump and speed lets him compete with strikers who are already stronger and more experienced than he is. He was trusted enough to captain a reserve side in Italy, a role usually reserved for players with far more senior appearances behind them.

Whether that raw physical profile is enough on its own is the real question hanging over him now. Heading power and recovery pace get a young defender through plenty of afternoons, but reading strikers' movement before the ball even arrives is the part that only senior football teaches. Lincoln fans will want to see that side of his game sharpen quickly.