Ivan Varfolomeev has earned his first senior international call-up, and Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen could barely hide his satisfaction when speaking about the news ahead of Saturday's Championship fixture against Swansea City.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who played a key role in Lincoln's promotion-winning campaign last season, has been selected to represent Ukraine in their Nations League campaign during the current international break. He has made five Championship starts so far this term as the Imps settle into life in the second tier.

"It's just so deserved," Cohen told the club's media. "There isn't a player that epitomises Lincoln City much more than Ivan does in terms of work ethic, desire to win, desire to be the best he can be every single day, so it's lovely when players of that type get the rewards that sometimes they don't."

It is the sort of endorsement that press releases are written around, but there is substance behind the language here. Varfolomeev arrived at Sincil Bank relatively unheralded and built his reputation game by game, a trajectory that feels distinctly in keeping with how Lincoln have operated under Cohen. That a player shaped by the club's Championship promotion push has now attracted the attention of a senior national set-up is, by any measure, a meaningful moment for the club.

Varfolomeev is not the only Lincoln player heading away on international duty. Winger Chiedozie Ogbene has been called up by the Republic of Ireland for their Nations League group-stage trip to Kosovo on Thursday, 24 September. The Lagos-born 29-year-old brings considerable experience to that squad, with 35 caps already to his name. His involvement illustrates the squad depth Lincoln have assembled: two players pulling on international shirts at Championship level is no small thing for a club that was outside the second tier not long ago.

In terms of team news for the Swansea fixture, Cohen confirmed that defenders Callum Elder and Tom Hamer are "close" to returning from their respective absences but neither is confirmed to be available for Saturday's 15:00 kick-off. The Imps will be hoping to have both back in contention after the break, with a demanding run of fixtures ahead.

Lincoln head into the international fortnight off the back of a productive spell. The club are unbeaten in five Championship matches, a run that included a win at Ashton Gate against Bristol City, and Cohen will be keen to maintain that momentum when league football resumes.

For Varfolomeev specifically, the call-up is a marker of how far he has come and, potentially, a signal of how far Lincoln have brought him. Clubs lower down the pyramid tend to develop players who then depart upward; Lincoln, in securing a Championship place, have changed the terms of that equation slightly. A player can now earn senior international recognition while still wearing their shirt.

Whether that dynamic holds as the season progresses will depend on how the Imps fare in the second tier. Five Championship starts is a reasonable return for a midfielder at this stage of the campaign, though Cohen will want to see consistent selection justified by consistent results. The Swansea City fixture on Saturday represents Lincoln's last opportunity to build momentum before the international break clears the schedule.

Both Varfolomeev and Ogbene will be expected back and available for selection when the Championship resumes after the break.

Frequently asked

What international squad has Ivan Varfolomeev been called up to?
Varfolomeev has been called up to the Ukraine senior squad for their Nations League campaign. It is his first call-up at senior international level.
Which Lincoln City players are away on international duty?
Midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev has been called up by Ukraine and winger Chiedozie Ogbene has been selected by the Republic of Ireland for their Nations League fixtures.
Are Callum Elder and Tom Hamer fit for Lincoln's game against Swansea?
Head coach Chris Cohen has said both defenders are close to returning but neither is confirmed to be available for the Championship fixture against Swansea City on Saturday.