Lincoln v Barnsley FC: Return of Fabio Jalo feels like a new signing for Conor Hourihane

The reputation of the mercurial winger, who has dazzled only intermittently in his time at Oakwell, has preceded him a bit.

The Portuguese under-19 international has shown fleeting promise, take his brace against Bolton back in the spring for instance.

After being used a fair bit during the last few months of 24-25, a knee problem proved untimely in the extreme. It was his second significant injury issue following shoulder surgery last year.

Jalo, who turned 20 last month, made his comeback in Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Peterborough United - starting from the off and playing the entire first-half - and is now determined to make up for lost time.

Hourihane remains a fan of his explosive dribbling, but he has also tellingly referenced his need to keep his application levels high on a daily basis - on more than one occasion.

The Reds boss said: “Look, if he stays fit and he gets back to the Fabio that I know that he can be and even improve on that and get better, then we've got another really good, young, exciting player on our hands, for sure.

“An extra attacking body will be really useful, particularly with what he gives you.

"He'll frighten defenders with his dribbling ability. We're hoping that he stays fit now and stays on the right road in terms of getting that little bit of luck and no more major injuries.

"And we'll try and manage him in the right way. He knows he’s got my full backing because of how good he was for me at the end of last year before he got that injury.

“And we really hope now that he can come back and hit the ground running and be like a new signing for the group."

Hourihane made a number of changes for the weekend cup tie in the Fens, with Luca Connell among those likely to return to the starting line-up at Lincoln, where the Reds are unbeaten in five, their last defeat at Sincil Bank coming in August 1979.