Hot-shot City striker has found his FINISHING TOUCH
...But there’s a whole lot more to come from McNulty says Sky Blues boss...
MARK Robins believes Coventry City’s leading scorer Marc McNulty is only just getting going.
The Sky Blues boss knows the 25-year-old will be a wanted man this summer after wading in with 26 goals to date, but remains determined to keep hold of the Scot for at least another season.
McNulty further established himself in the club’s record books with his second hat-trick of the season taking his goal tally to an outstanding 26 in all competitions (23 in the league).
That means the summer signing from Sheffield United has beaten Bobby Gould’s 51-year record of 25 goals in 1967, while also bettering Callum Wilson’s 21 league haul from 2013-14 and Ian Wallace’s 21 top flight strikes in 197778.
“It’s brilliant – absolutely brilliant,” said City boss Robins.
“He’s a really good finisher. Not only that, he does some selfless work for other people as well by making chances and goals for others.”
What made his contribution all the more impressive at Cheltenham was the fact that he had a hand in the other three goals as well. He won the free-kick for the first, which Michael Doyle pinged out to Jordan Shipley to cross for Tom Bayliss to score, dummied a Max Biamou centre, unselfishly leaving it for Shipley to score the second and then laid the ball back to Jack Grimmer to send in a cross for Biamou’s acrobatic overhead kick. “You can go back to the Crawley game and see that he does that; linking play with other players and he’s clever, he’s bright and I think he’s just starting to get going,” said Robins. “If we have him for the length of his contract then I think we’re going to be OK.”
Asked if he thinks City will have him for the second year of his two-year deal, the manager insisted: “Yes. He’s going nowhere!”
Former Coventry City boss Tony Mowbray and two ex-Sky Blues loan strikers have been nominated for EFL awards.
Mowbray, who has successfully guided Blackburn Rovers to promotion to the Championship, is up for Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for April, while former fans’ favourite Duckens Nazon, now at Oldham Athletic, has been nominated for Player of the Month.
Not so popular during his time with the Sky Blues, Nathan Delfouneso is
It’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Not only is he good finisher but he does selfless work, making chances and goals for others. Mark Robins
also in the running for the monthly accolade after an impressive April with League One Blackpool.
Manager Mowbray is nominated along with AFC Wimbledon’s Neal Ardley, Wigan’s Paul Cook and Scunthorpe’s Nick Daws.
He’s been recognised for, “a unifying presence at Ewood Park this season, his astute tactics, man-management and calmness saw Rovers clinch immediate promotion back to the Championship. Seven games yielded 14 points and celebrations all round.”
As for the players, Nazon – who scored eight goals for the Sky Blues in the first half of the season – hit four goals in eight April games.
The winners will be announced on Friday.