Injury and illness make life tough
COVENTRY City entertain Wigan Athletic tonight looking to secure their sixth Championship win from their last eight games, and continue the club’s recovery and rise up the table.
Mark Robins has been forced to contend with horrendous injury news in recent weeks – a situation compounded by illness sweeping through the camp over the last week which has resulted in several players being unavailable or, in some cases, battling on and throwing up at half-time in games.
The Sky Blues have been dreadfully unlucky with injuries and just when one player comes back, another seems to be struck down with another significant blow.
Callum O’hare and Tyler Walker are case in points, having both returned in recent weeks, only for Matty Godden, Martyn Waghorn, Liam Kelly and Fankaty Dabo being ruled out.
Here’s a list of who is currently out and when we can expect them to report back for duty.
Callum Doyle
The young centre-back is the latest player to fall victim to the virus that has ripped through the training ground at Ryton. The 18-year-old Manchester City loan defender did a cracking job at the heart of the back three against Blackburn Rovers last Tuesday night, helping to secure a 1-0 home win in a game in which Kyle Mcfadzean was out ill.
Mcfadzean then dragged himself off his sick bed to travel to Watford on Saturday when Doyle was struck down with the illness. That means he’is going to be a doubt for this week’s clash with Athletic.
Liam Kelly
The City captain has been out since he limped off at Oxford in preseason with a recurrence of a torn hamstring that kept him out for long periods of last season. With limited options in the middle of the park, Coventry have missed the 32-year-old’s experience and knowhow amid a difficult start to the campaign.
But although Kelly came through run outs in two Under-21 games last month, he suffered yet another setback when he damaged a knee, with a scan confirming that he is going to be out for a little while longer.
However, there’is good news regarding the skipper who was due back in training yesterday.
Robins said: “He’s had an injection which needed four days to settle so he will start back on Monday
and we’ll see how he is then. It’s better news and we’ll see how he is when he starts trying to train again.”
Matty Godden
The striker suffered a major setback to his season against Sheffield United last month, rupturing his ankle ligaments and having surgery that will keep him out until the end of January at the earliest.
Providing an update, Robins said: “He’s had his op. He’s had ankle ligament surgery. They fixed the ruptured ligament but also found another one that was a little bit loose, so they tightened that up and so he should have a decent ankle when he comes back. But he’s out for three to four months.”
Martyn Waghorn
The experienced striker went on in the 65th minute against Sheffield United, scored from the penalty spot to win the match in the 87th and limped off injured with a tight hamstring in the 90th.
The striker played down the injury afterwards, confident that it wasn’t too serious. But it has since been confirmed that he faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
“It’s going to be after the World Cup break,” said Robins, providing an update on the experienced striker.
Fankaty Dabo
The popular wing-back limped off against Rotherham last week after over-stretching while chasing back to make a tackle in the 2-2 CBS Arena draw with the Millers.
“Fanky has torn his thigh and we are looking at his rehab and monitoring that,” said the City boss, “But he’s going to be six to eight weeks. Hopefully the earlier of the two,” said Robins.