Boss Kasts an eye over the future prospects for winger

LOOKING from the outside in, Gervane Kastaneer appeared further away from Coventry City’s first team than ever when he was an unused substitute in the Under-23s last week.

The Dutch winger has shown glimpses of brilliance on the ball since joining the Sky Blues from NAC Breda in the summer – none more so than he went on in the 81st minute against Bristol Rovers and promptly scored within 60 seconds of being on the pitch in a sensational league debut. His arrival well and truly announced, that eye-catching moment of glory was back in midAugust.

It’s been a rocky road since then as the 23-year-old followed it up with just one league start and eight more appearances from the bench in the division to add to a handful of appearances in the League Cup and EFL Trophy.

In short, it hasn’t exactly gone as planned for the powerful and potentially exciting wide man whose circumstances are not helped by the fact that City have changed formation since the late summer months when he was pushing for a wide berth in a three-man forward line.

Add to that the fact that he’s struggled with form and fitness, and clearly taking time to settle in a different country, and it begs the question whether it’s time for both player and club to cut their losses and part company in the final week of the January transfer window?

Sometimes you have to take a step back to come forward, and that may be the case with Gervane. But we will have to wait and see. Mark Robins

Asked about Kastaneer’s situation, in particular the fact that he didn’t get a game in the Under-23s last week, manager Mark Robins said: “Sometimes you have to take a step back to come forward, and that may be the case with Gervane.

“But we will have to wait and see. We have to assess everyone on a daily basis. But people coming from abroad, young men coming to a different country takes time for them to settle, and at different rates, so however long that takes.

“It may take him longer, but we’ll see with Gervane. But clearly, there will come a tipping point and things will move in a different direction.”

Whether that’s in the Sky Blues first team or at another club, probably back in the Netherlands, remains to be seen.