Lincoln City

  1. Ayumu Yokoyama scored Birmingham's opener against Swindon Town

  3. Defender Earley returns to Plymouth from Lincoln

    Saxon Earley playing for Plymouth ArgyleRex Features

    Saxon Earley started his career with Norwich City

    Defender Saxon Earley has returned to Plymouth Argyle after spending the first half of the season on loan at Lincoln City.

    The 22-year-old failed to make an appearance in League One for the Imps but played twice in the EFL Trophy and featured in their 4-0 win at Chesham United in the FA Cup first round in November.

    Earley started his career with Norwich City before joining Argyle in January 2023 and has scored two goals in five starts.

    He ended last season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers.

  4. Lyndon Dykes

  5. Lyndon Dykes

  6. Ayumu Yokoyama

  7. Ayumu Yokoyama celebrates his Birmingham City goal after just 36 seconds at St Andrew's

  8. JJ McKiernan in action for Lincoln

  9. EFL footballs

  10. EFL branded footballs on a pitch

  11. Lincoln striker Rob Street has joined Doncaster on loan

  12. Tendayi Darikwa in action for Lincoln City

  13. A side shot of Alan Long wearing a long black coat and glasses. He is holding a notebook in his left hand and is holding a black microphone up to his mouth with his right hand. He is stood on a football pitch. The crowd is blurred in the stadium in the background.

  15. Jay Matete (right) had not scored since joining Bolton on loan in August

  16. Lewis Montsma playing for Lincoln City

  17. Shrewsbury Town v Lincoln City

  18. EFL Football

  19. Joe Taylor claps as he leaves the pitch for Luton

  20. Barry Fry and Mark Ward celebrate victory over Carlisle in the 1995 EFL Trophy - then Auto Windscreens Shield - final

  21. EFL match ball

  22. Shrewsbury Town boss Gareth Ainsworth and Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield

  23. Michael Bull smiles at the camera in front of Lincoln City's football pitch He is wearing a red football tracksuit and is smiling at the camera. Mr Bull has a bald head and a grey goatee beard.

  24. Walsall's Danny Johnson

  25. Argyle could consider Earley loan recall - Rooney

    Saxon Earley during one of his few appearances for Lincoln City this seasonGetty Images

    Plymouth Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney says the club could recall Saxon Earley from his season-long loan spell at Lincoln City if he does not get more game time.

    The 22-year-old left-sided player has yet to make a league appearance for the Imps having suffered a back injury.

    He has made one start and one substitute appearance in the EFL Trophy, with his last appearance being a 10-minute cameo off the bench when Lincoln beat non-league Chesham 4-0 in the FA Cup first round more than a month ago.

    "We have to monitor it and see what options we have," Rooney said.

    "If he's not playing it's something which we'd look at, of course it is," he added when asked about a recall.

    "We'd bring him back and have a look at him if that's the case, and then from there make a decision whether he stays with us or we put him out on loan again.

    "That's purely on where we feel he's at and where we are as a squad."