Duo rate star billing with Sky Blues sitting pretty in the league

City get set for Sam test in new year SKIPPER KELLY AND DEFENSIVE ROCK HYAM LEADING THE WAY SO FAR THIS SEASON

COVENTRY City face the prospect of a testing January transfer window when fans will be waiting nervously to see if a host of admiring clubs will put their money where their scouting interest is this season.

Manager Mark Robins Sam McCallum insists it will take a “monumental bid” from a top Premier League club to prise Sam McCallum away from Coventry City.

The teenage defender has attracted the attention of several clubs this season, with Aston Villa, West Brom, Leeds United, Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest all linked with interest in the player.

McCallum only joined the Sky Blues the summer before last, snapped up from non-league Herne Bay via the Jamie Vardy Academy trials, aged just 17.

He went on to earn his senior City debut shortly after his 18th birthday, going on to make seven League One appearances in his first season after initially being identified for the Under-23s development squad. He impressed so much that just eight months in to his first deal at the club, City tied him down to a new and improved three year contract last March which will take him to the summer of 2022.

The marauding left-back turned wing-back has stepped up again this season.

Scouts from higher-placed clubs have been flocking to watch him. Asked recently if he’s surprised about the interest McCallum is attracting, Robins said: “No. He’s a really good player. But if anyone wants to take him it’s going to cost a hell of a lot of money.”

As for the player himself, that sort of attention can sit heavily on such young shoulders. But the 19-year-old is showing no signs of pressure or letting it affect his game which just seems to be getting better and better.

Asked if he’s been aware of the interest from higher-placed clubs and scouts watching him, and how he’s coped with it, he said: “I have been aware of it but the gaffer has been keeping my feet on the ground and my head at Coventry.”

COVENTRY City are a third of the way into their 2019/20 League One campaign.

The Sky Blues have enjoyed a decent start to the season, particularly bearing in mind the fact that manager Mark Robins recruited ten new permanent signings in the summer and took three on loan.

Taking the division by storm, the new-look side began with an 11-game unbeaten run in the division, rising to top spot for a week at the end of September. Currently sitting pretty in sixth place, City have 26 points from 16 league games and are through to the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy and the second round of the FA Cup . So how are the players doing? Here we assess each player and rate their performance so far.

MARKO MAROSI 7.5

The summer signing from Doncaster Rovers has kept seven clean sheets so far and proved to be a more than able first choice keeper for the Sky Blues. Marosi has been well protected but has pulled off some decent saves when called upon and kicks and distributes the ball well.

BEN WILSON 6

The understudy keeper has only played six times to date and yet to feature in the league but looks a more than capable deputy. Wilson’s strong point is his impressive distribution with the ball at his feet.

FANKATY DABO 7.5

The right-back took time to settle with a crazy first couple of months when he was sent off and scored two own goals in one game.

The jury was certainly out for a while but Dabo has grown into the role and is getting better with every game that goes by, defending well and providing a decent outlet going forward.

TENNAI WATSON 6

The 22-year-old joined on loan from Reading at the end of August to provide defensive cover and he has done just that. Watson has made six appearances and done well when called upon.

KYLE MCFADZEAN 7

The ball playing centre-half started the season strongly and then had a bit of a blip at Rotherham. But the experienced McFadzean has come back strongly and is the glue that holds an impressive back three together, as well as being skipper without the armband.

MICHAEL ROSE 8

The Scot has settled in quickly and effortlessly to League One football after moving south of the border.

The centre-half is cool and calm on the ball, defends well and reads the game well.

DOM HYAM 8.5 Although a pre-season injury delayed his start to the campaign, last season’s Player of the Year has picked up where he left off with performances of a consistently high standard. Hyam reads the game superbly well and is growing into an accomplished defender at this level who looks capable of playing higher. BRANDON MASON 7 The left-back started the season as Mark Robins’ first choice left-back but an injury and heavy defeat at Rotherham saw him lose his place to his understudy, limiting him to 11 appearances so far. SAM McCALLUM 8 The 19-year-old is currently the man in possession of the left-back/wing-back shirt and, after being handed set-piece responsibilities and scoring against Colchester at the weekend, is showing no sign of giving it up any time soon.

LIAM KELLY 8.5

The captain has had a disjointed start to the season, during which he was forced to sit out a handful of games with injury and then bide his time on the bench behind Liam Walsh.

But Kelly has forced his way back in and is one of the first names on the team-sheet, bringing quality on the ball, leadership and experience to a very young side.

LIAM WALSH 7 Drafted in on loan from Bristol City on transfer deadline day, the 22-year-old put in some impressive early performances, displaying a good range of passing, decent football brain and lots of energy to keep Kelly out of the side. However, the skipper has kept Walsh on the bench in recent weeks until