Matty to go extra Miles
COVENTRY City have taken former Leicester City midfielder Matty Miles on trial.
The 20-year-old came up through the Foxes’ Academy ranks and was part of the Premier League club’s development side last term but was released at the end of the season.
Miles was handed a run-out for the Sky Blues against Tamworth on Saturday for Nicky Eaden’s Under-23 group that drew 3-3 at The Lamb.
The Telegraph understands that the versatile player, who can play in defence as well, is being looked at with a view to joining Mark Robins’ senior squad rather than as a specific development signing.
If successful in earning a deal, however, he would continue his development with the Under-23s until ready for the first team. Sky Blues Reporter MARK Robins handed seven of his nine summer signings to date their Coventry City debuts at Gander Green Lane in the friendly against Sutton United at the weekend.
Two missed out – midfielder Liam Kelly, who was feeling the effects of last week’s intense pre-season fitness regime and needed a rest, and most recent signing Jack Grimmer who is playing catch-up after joining the Sky Blues later than the others.
But the manager used the opening fixture of the friendly programme to run the rule over triallists Jordan Lussey and Greg Moorhouse, both of whom were due to travel as part of the 24-man squad to Spain this week. So how did they and the seven new signings look on their first showing, each given 45 minutes of game time as Robins played two separate teams against non-league Sutton United where City ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of a late goal from Moorhouse?
The former Portsmouth second choice goalkeeper impressed against a big and physical Sutton side, commanding his box well from corners and high balls into the area.
Although not tested a great deal in an opening half of few chances, he made one smart save and certainly looked the part. He displayed a long throw when he sent a diagonal ball to the halfway line from the right of his area, and kicked reasonably well.
The 21-year-old was deployed as a right sided centre-half alongside Jordan Turnbull for the first 45 minutes and looked reasonably solid.
He stood up to the physical challenge and showed a decent turn of speed to get across one striker and shepherd the ball out of harm’s way.
It’s early days for the Scot who has signed from Reading and expected to be more of a squad player.
The Northampton Town capture was deployed on the left of a centreback pairing with Jordan Willis for the second half and they, on paper, are expected to be Robins’ first choice centre-halves come the start of the season. The 25-year-old looked pretty fit and mobile and helped maintain the clean sheet.
Took the skipper’s armband for the first half and the returning midfielder who led Portsmouth to the League Two title last season is expected to be named as full-time captain this summer. The 35-year-old covered plenty of ground and organised the players from start to finish of his 45-minute stint, looking every bit the leader that the Sky Blues need to mount a promotion push.
Another of the new players who caught the eye, not least because he almost scored. Okay, he should have scored but we’ll cut the goal scoring wide man a bit of slack in the first runout of the pre-season. All credit to the Rochdale capture, he popped up in the right place at the right time to get on the end of a Jodi Jones’ cross. The