Coventry City, Frank Lampard will be purring at Grimsby Town project, but may have Will Bapaga fear | OneFootball

Coventry striker Justin Obikwu is having a great loan spell at Grimsby, and all parties will hope he'll kick-on better than a previous City loanee.

Coventry City loanee Justin Obikwu has been in red-hot form for Grimsby Town recently, and Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard will be delighted at his progress. He and all concerned will be hoping his development remains on an upward trajectory, unlike a previous player who made a similar move in 2021.

21-year-old Obikwu is enjoying his second spell at Blundell Park after initially joining in the 2023/24 January transfer window.

The Mariners were in a more precarious position at that time, with Artell's men embroiled in a relegation battle they'd ultimately win, in doing so retaining their EFL status.

It's fair to say Grimsby have kicked-on greatly since this time last year, but the Trinidad & Tobago international showed glimpses of his talents at the back end of last season, scoring important goals against MK Dons and Sutton United that ultimately yielded four valuable points as Grimsby beat the drop.

The Mariners boss had seen enough potential in the Coventry youngster to sign him on a second occasion, this time on a season-long loan last summer, and his development in that time, coupled with being surrounded by better quality players and structure after a strong summer of recruitment by the Blundell Park outfit has allowed him and his teammates to flourish towards the right end of the League Two table so far this time around.

The youngster's all-round game has come on leaps and bounds since he first arrived in North East Lincolnshire just over 12 months ago, with his hold-up play, strength, first touch, and control coming to the fore alongside his goalscoring ability.

Obikwu and Rose partnership provides Grimsby with a real attacking edge

After playing much of the season with a sole striker, usually either Obikwu or captain Danny Rose, the Mariners have switched systems recently to allow for the pair to play as a duo, to devastating effect.

While Rose has been among the goals, his strike partner has too, netting in consecutive victories against Bromley, Carlisle United, and Doncaster Rovers respectively recently, as the forwards' form mirrors that of the team as a whole.

The pair compliment each other well, with Rose's workrate and willingness to drop-in and win physical battles, combined with Obikwu's pace and ability to stretch defences providing Artell with a greater threat that has played a major part in his side's recent good run.

The Coventry man has been slightly hampered by injuries over recent months, but has looked the real deal when available, scoring seven goals in 15 league appearances up to this point.

Given his and the team's superb recent displays, Mariners' supporters and their boss will be hoping the Coventry man can stay injury-free and on top form for the remainder of the campaign.

Striker will hope to avoid the fate of fellow Sky Blues loanee at Grimsby

Back in 2021, with he and his side preparing for life in the National League following their relegation earlier that year, then-Grimsby manager Paul Hurst added young Coventry attacker Will Bapaga to his ranks on a season-long loan.

As the Mariners got off to a flying start in the fifth-tier, the teenager, who'd made his professional bow for his parent club at just 16 years-of-age, provided a real contribution as the Midlands-born youngster, who mainly operated from wide areas, scored twice in 11 appearances.

Despite picking up a red card for two bookable offences in a victory at Altrincham, Bapaga had made a good early impression, and looked a talented player who could forge a good career in the game.

When he was recalled by the Sky Blues in January 2022, many Mariners supporters would have thought he'd have pushed-on from there, perhaps with a loan move to an EFL side to further develop his all-round game.

That never transpired, however, and the youngster has struggled to get going ever since. Released by City in 2023, Bapaga has since played briefly for National League North side Buxton, and seventh-tier outfits Mickleover and Stratford Town, the latter of which he plies his trade for at present.

Ask many Grimsby followers who saw Bapaga turn out for the Mariners their thoughts on his current situation and his drop-off since leaving Blundell Park three years ago, and you'll be met with some surprise.

The winger had something about him as a player, with the potential to really kick-on following his time on the East Coast. Why that hasn't happened remains a mystery.

Frank Lampard and Coventry will be hoping Obikwu's career stays upwardly mobile, however, and given his continuous progress, huge potential, and willingness to work hard and learn, there's every chance we'll see just that.