Max Melbourne came to us on loan in late August 2021 at first – but it was widely expected the move would be made permanent. That’s because, at the time, parent club Lincoln City let him leave; the left back falling down the pecking order at Sincil Bank. We weren’t able to provide a full blown transfer at the time. But signing him on a deal until January 2022 meant he’d get an opportunity to prove his worth to the Boro’ team. And it was definitely something that we’d all hope would happen: player, Boro’, and the Imps.

To start, the thinking was that he’d provide cover for Ben Coker at left back. Of course, it didn’t mean that he’d have to settle for that. “This loan move is a great opportunity for Max to get more regular first-team football,” said Imps director of football Jez George. “Max is also entering the final year of his contract. So, this loan will help him try to secure an option for himself beyond this season, which he knows will be away from Lincoln.”

Max Melbourne: Before Boro’

Melbourne only arrived at Sincil Bank on a permanent deal in January 2020; that in itself being a loan move that ended in something more. In fact, Lincoln was his third destination on loan while on the books at West Brom. The two other sides he turned out for were both north of the border: Ross County and Partick Thistle. Then, after making that permanent move to Sincil Bank, the left back also spent some time back in the Midlands on loan at Walsall.