Evergreen Doyle earns boss’s praise

MARK Robins has saluted Michael Doyle’s ongoing influence for Coventry City – and hopes the captain sticks around much longer.

Doyle has started the League One season in strong form and continues to be a pivotal player for the Sky Blues.

The Irish midfielder was the sponsors’ man of the match during the weekend win over Plymouth Argyle at the Ricoh Arena.

Doyle shows no signs of fading and Robins insists the 37-year-old skipper is a model professional and an example to his younger team-mates.

“He works hard,” said Robins. “He’s got a desire and a determination to do well. He’s a winner. He’s just a winner. You can see that every day.

“He doesn’t ask for days off and I don’t give him days off really.

“He wants to keep working. He comes in every day and works his socks off. That’s something for the younger players to take notice of.

“You don’t play over 700 games and win the things that he’s won and play the level he played at and is playing at if you’re not that consummate professional.

“He’s an outstanding model for people to follow because he’s a top, top player.”

Robins admits Doyles effectively acts as an extra coach to the Sky Blues squad and the boss has earmarked him for a backroom role when the day finally comes to hang up his boots.

“He does some of our work for us and his performances are at a really high level still and that’s testament to him and his family,” said Robins.

“When you get to that age you want to see that you’re playing for something and you’re trying to win and you’re trying to do the right thing.

“That’s why he came back and that’s why he’s playing the way he is.

“He loves the club and wants it to do well and wants to succeed and wants to try and drive us back into the Championship.

“You need people like that and he’ll be with me for a long time to come, whether he’s playing or whether he’s on the coaching staff or whatever.

“He knows that and that’s the type of person that you want around.”