Ponticelli’s out for up to three months
COVENTRY City striker Jordan Ponticelli is set to be out for up to three months after it has been confirmed that he’s suffered a broken metatarsal in his left foot.
The teenager was forced off injured in the first half of his debut on loan at League Two Macclesfield Town at the weekend, after hearing a “crack” as he raced down the wing at Gresty Road, where the Silkmen suffered a 3-0 defeat to Crewe.
Ponticelli only went out on loan on Friday following the arrival of Conor Chaplin from Portsmouth.
He has not returned to Ryton where he will begin his recovery, which is expected to take until early December.
Following his return to fitness the player will resume his loan spell with Macclesfield.
A spokesman for the club said: “Everyone here wishes Jordan a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in action soon.”
Ponticelli was due spend the season at Macclesfield with City boss Mark Robins having the option to recall him in January. MARK Robins insists he doesn’t feel under any undue pressure after Coventry City’s board backed him to the tune of £1 million this summer.
The Sky Blues boss signed 15 players in the recent transfer window and, although many were free agents, the club splashed out £500,000 on Conor Chaplin from Portsmouth, £300,000 on Amadou Bakayoko from Walsall and what is understood to be another six-figure sum for Jordy Hiwula from Premier League Huddersfield Town.
City also paid five-figure fees for Reise Allassani (Dulwich Hamlet), Morgan Williams (Mickleover Sports) and Dexter Walters (Tamworth), taking the summer spend to about the million mark.
Robins has bought for the future as well as the here and now, drafting in several young players to boost the development squad and give the club strength in depth coming through.
Added to that is the fact that the players who got City promoted have all been paid promotion bonuses, those players coming in will be on higher wages than last year due to the club playing in a higher division, and the squad is bigger.
Taking all the above into account, the club appear to have reinvested the £1.5 million they received from the sale of Marc McNulty to Reading, if not more.
Opposition managers will be quick to pick up on Coventry’s spending ahead or after games against the Sky Blues.
Indeed, Rochdale manager Keith Hill said ahead of Saturday’s Ricoh victory: “They’re a big football club, spending big money again, recruiting players who were very successful last season. “Getting Connor Chaplin in is a big coup for Coventry City. “I don’t think they’ve been able to spend the type of money they’re spending now in previous seasons in League One or League Two.” Asked if there’s a pressure that comes with the “big” spending and rival managers pointing it out every week
I do the job because I love it and I will continue to do it because I love it, and I will not ever feel any pressure from anything at all.