Klavan hails Virgil arrival
LIVERPOOL defender Ragnar Klavan has welcomed the arrival of Virgil van Dijk despite the fact the £75million signing is likely to reduce his own chances.
Klavan became the first Estonian to score in the Premier League with his header deep into added time securing a 2-1 win at Burnley.
However, while that may prove to be crucial in Liverpool’s season it is unlikely to be of much help to the 32-year-old in the short-term with Van Dijk keen to get his Reds career under way after completing his move from Southampton on New Year’s Day.
Klavan, a £4.2m buy from Augsburg in July 2016, is fourth-choice centre-back but he is not deterred by the big-money arrival.
“He is a good addition to our team,” Klavan said.
“It is like it is for everyone: there is competition and competition is good for all places.” Sky Blues Reporter COVENTRY City’s Christmas bonus of nine points from four games has been a real squad effort.
Manager Mark Robins has had to call upon youngsters who have stepped up to play their part in helping the Sky Blues start the New Year on the front foot, up to third place and perfectly poised to push on to make a real fist of the fight for automatic promotion.
Over 800 hardcore supporters saw Dominic Hyam step into the breach when mainstay centre-back Jordan Willis limped off with a dead leg after just 17 minutes against Carlisle United, alongside the more experienced Tom Davies who has filled in magnificently for Rod McDonald over the festive period.
Davies has had to be patient since joining the club from Portsmouth at the end of August but his aggressive and aerially dominant displays in the last two games have created real competition at the back.
The midfield is another area that has flourished in the face of potential adversity. Tom Bayliss, just 18 remember, was thrown in at the deep end to make his full league debut against Cheltenham Town just before Christmas when the manager revealed afterwards that some of his staff didn’t feel he was ready.
He was outstanding that day but few would have thought that he would start and finish the next four games in a gruelling holiday schedule to make it five consecutive and hugely consistent performances from the talented Academy graduate who has added an extra and welcome dimension to the middle of the park.
He’s filling in for the injured Liam Kelly, of course, who faces hot competition to get back in the side when he returns to fitness in the coming weeks from a teenager who has the ability to receive the ball, turn and drive forward in one delightful move to get City on the attack.
Jordan Shipley has been another success story.
A young player who has taken his chance in the team and commanded a place in the starting line-up in the lefthand berth but, like all up and coming young players, will benefit from a rest at some stage.
Devon Kelly-Evans, meanwhile, has taken advantage of Peter Vincenti’s knee injury to remind the manager what he can do on the right.
And while he had a difficult task in a complete height and weight mis-match against Chesterfield full-back Jerome