Teenage star Finn pens new deal with City

KENILWORTH lad Kyle Finn has been given more time to progress into Coventry City’s first team after being handed a contract extension by manager Mark Robins.

The Sky Blues boss gave the skilful 19-year-old forward his senior debut against Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup earlier this season, and has clearly seen enough in the Under-23s to give the player a new deal.

Finn is a left footed forward who can play out wide or as a No.10.

He’s been at the Academy since the age of nine and his standout qualities include excellent close control, creativity and ability to execute a clever change direction on the ball.

He provides plenty of assists and gets the occasional goal.

A statement on the club website confirmed the new contract, saying: “We are pleased to announce that midfielder Kyle Finn has agreed a contract extension with Coventry City Football Club.

“The 19 year-old has put pen to paper on a new deal which will take him to June 2019, with the option of a further year to take him to June 2020.”

Finn made the step-up from under-18s last summer when he signed his first professional contract with the club following a run of performances with the youth team during their successful campaign.

The midfielder was then rewarded for his hard work when he was given his debut by Robins in August when he came off the bench in the EFL Cup First Round clash with Blackburn at the Ricoh Arena, going on after 75 minutes for Jodi Jones.

Throughout the 2017/18 season the player has continued to feature for Jason Farndon’s Under-23s. COVENTRY City striker Marc McNulty is on course to chalk up a career best return of goals this season.

The leading Sky Blues scorer took his impressive tally to 18 against Luton Town on Tuesday night and looks set to achieve his pre-season target of 20 with ten games to go.

“It would obviously be great to get that 20 and hopefully if I do that then it will edge us closer to where we want to be,” said the 25-year-old forward, who will be hoping to bag a brace at Crewe this Saturday to achieve his goal.

“That’s obviously the objective for everyone, and me.

“I’d like to score at least two more but it doesn’t matter who gets them as long as it gets us up because that’s the priority.”

McNulty has hit double figures six times in his professional career, scoring 13 goals on three separate seasons.

But his biggest haul to date was with Livingston in the Scottish Championship when he hit 19 in the 2013/14 campaign.

“I am on course to beat that, which would be nice,” said the player, who has bagged four hat-tricks in the past, one in League Two with Portsmouth and three north of the border. “I was a bit younger then.” Asked if he set himself a target when he joined City last summer, McNulty said: “I did, yes, 20 goals.

“The reason being that it would be the best scoring season of my career.

“Coming here the manager said to me that I was going to be the main striker.

“Obviously it was a bit of a slow start and everyone doubted that, so it is just good to almost get there and there are a few games left so I just need to keep going and get us to where we want to be.”

So if he hits his 20 goal target, will he set himself a new one and maybe aim for 25?

“No, I just think about going into the next game and trying to score and win,” he said.

“I don’t want to be saying let’s get to 22, 23 or 25. Most strikers will tell you they just look at the next game, especially with ten left to go.

“There are plenty of games left to score goals and hopefully there will be plenty more chances that come my way.”

McNulty has had a new strike partner in recent weeks following the arrival of Jonson Clarke-Harris in the January transfer window, and the Scot believes it’s a developing relationship on the pitch which he’s confident will get better with more games together.

“The partnership said.

“Big Jonno works hard doesn’t he.

“He’s a big and strong lad and got a little bit of quality as well with the ball at his feet. Some people might not think that but he’s really good and he can see a pass.

“There were a couple of times where he reversed it and some people weren’t expecting it on Tuesday night.

“I enjoy playing with him. I have played with Max Biamou as well and both are pretty similar, big target men and someone to work off.

“We’re new playing together so I imagine a few more games and you’ll see us click a bit better.” is good,” he