By Nathan Jackson
December 6 2007

Danny Hone has signed his first professional contract just over a month after his debut. The 18 year old has been highly impressive in his appearances for the Imps since replacing injured Lee Beevers. Danny, son of former City man Mark, is one of several youth team players to be given a chance recently and his good form could give Peter Jackson a selection headache when players return from injury.

Little over a month ago and Hone was travelling up and down the country playing for City's youth and reserve teams, and a first team appearance more than likely seemed a long way off for him.

Then in Peter Jackson's first game in charge of the Imps he replaced Lee Beevers in the first half. Danny's impressive debut against Chester was one of the few positives on what was an otherwise miserable night thanks to some incompetent refereeing.

Since then Hone has cemented a place in the starting 11 just 10 years after his father helped the Imps to promotion.

He is part of a squad that is screaming out with youngsters, 8 of the 13 players who played against Stockport on Tuesday night were under the age of 22, a staggering statistic considering the average age of the first team at the beginning of the season was heading towards the 30 mark. Hone is one of several products of the youth team currently being given a surprise chance, with Lenell John-Lewis and Owain Warlow also finding themselves having regular first team football in recent weeks.

It is hardly a surprise though after Peter Jackson gave youth a chance at Huddersfield, giving first team places to players such as Jonathan Worthington, David Mirfin, Danny Schofield and Jon Stead to name just a few.

Hone's new contract sees him staying at Sincil Bank until July 30th 2010 and he will almost certainly start on Saturday in City's difficult trip to Hereford United.