Imps forward Makama has ‘crazy’ potential – Skubala

Jovon Makama’s hat-trick against Bristol Rovers was a glimpse of the Lincoln City forward’s “crazy” potential, according to boss Michael Skubala.

The 21-year-old netted his first professional treble in Saturday’s 5-0 League One thrashing of Bristol Rovers.

He broke the deadlock before the break and scored the Imps’ final two goals to complete what Skubala described as a “special performance”.

“When I came into the building 18 months ago, I said this kid has got talent, you are just going to have to wait for it,” he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

“But when he does it, and gets it right like today, you can see his technical quality, his power, his physicality and everything he has got.”

The hat-trick took Makama’s goal tally to 11 in what has been a breakout season, having managed a total of four goals in the previous two campaigns after his debut in August 2022.

Makama showed great strength and composure for his first two goals on Saturday, driving into the box before beating Rovers goalkeeper Jed Wallace with fierce finishes, while his third was a well-placed effort into the bottom corner after the visitors failed to clear a corner.

“The goals were magnificent,” Skubala added.

“He absolutely destroyed their left side and just looked so good today. But I still think he has more to improve and think he can get better, and that’s the crazy bit.

“His challenge is to make sure he keeps pushing and keeps making the most of the potential we all think he has. Today, he was just unplayable.”

Michael Reindorf has made just three substitute appearances for Bristol Rovers and hasn’t made a matchday squad for a month

Inigo Calderon has confessed that Michael Reindorf has had a “bad spell” in recent training sessions lately after the Cardiff City loanee was once again left out of Bristol Rovers’ matchday squad for Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at Lincoln City.

The 19-year-old has made just three appearances from the bench since his arrival on deadline day last month and hasn’t played since the 2-1 defeat at Northampton Town on February 22. In fact, the striker hasn’t made a squad since that afternoon in Northamptonshire.

Calderon has had to deal with a host of injury issues to strikers lately with Promise Omochere now set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, Gatlin O’Donkor being sidelined since February 2 and Chris Martin missing two of the last three games with a slight knee issue. Rovers are also set to lose Ruel Sotiriou to international duty with Cyprus this week.

However, despite limited options up front, Reindorf still has found it difficult to get himself on the Gas bench at the very least.

I think he has had a bad spell [with] performance for me in the sessions,” Calderon admitted after Saturday’s defeat to Lincoln. “Of course you don’t see the sessions. This week I think he was better, but still it is like you are in the queue because when the players they come to your place and you lose your place in the squad, you have to wait a little bit. But I think he was a bit better this week.”

Calderon has previously noted his concept of having a ’19th man’ travel with the matchday squad in case of any players being forced to pull out and Reindorf has often found himself as the player just on the periphery of the final 18.