YOUNGSTERS OVER INJURY SCARES
COVENTRY City survived an early-season injury scare yesterday when X-rays confirmed that teenage talent Billy Daniels did not break his foot during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Yeovil.
The Bristol-born midfielder, who graduated from Gregor Rioch's Academy to sign professional terms this summer, limped off five minutes from the end at Huish Park and Sky Blues initially feared he had fractured a metatarsal.
But it has been confirmed that the problem is nothing worse than heavy bruising and he could face Sheffield United at the Ricoh Arena tonight along with full-back Jordan Clarke, who is confident of passing a morning fitness test on the knee he twisted on Saturday.
If Andy Thorn decides not to risk Daniels, Steve Jennings could make his competitive debut four days after becoming City's ninth signing of the summer.
The Sky Blues boss has to make one enforced change because of the hamstring injury that has sidelined John Fleck. Either Gary McSheffrey, a substitute at Yeovil, or Carl Baker will come in at the tip of the diamond in place of the young Scotsman, who was all set to sign for The Blades a year ago until registration red tape sabotaged his switch from Rangers at the 13th hour! “It's a blow losing a player of his quality so early in the season,“ admitted Thorn, “but these things happen and you just have to get on with it. This will be a big test for us against a team who are clear favourites for the title this season so it will be great if we can start like we finished at Yeovil because we got better as the game went on.“
Coventry's development squad lost 3-1 to their Blades counterparts at the Alan Higgs Centre yesterday.
Danny Philliskirk added a secondhalf opener to Erik Tonne's opener for the visitors but was denied a hat-trick when Shane Fagan saved his penalty while Shaun Jeffers notched a late consolation having earlier missed a penalty and hit the post.
City defenders Nathan Cameron and Cyrus Christie both came through the full 90 minutes as they continue their recovery from knee injuries.
“They've only been back in full training for a week and a bit so they've still got some way to go but it was good for them to get a game under their belts,“ said Thorn, who also played French centre-back William Edjenguélé for the first 45 minutes.
Thorn is not pursuing his interest in Hungarian striker Peter Poloskei, who spent a fortnight training with the club and played in a couple of their pre-season friendlies. “We had a good look at Peter and we did think of offering him a year's deal with perhaps a year's option but we decided that he didn't quite fit with us,“ said Thorn, who is still keen to bring in a loan striker from a Premier League club. City have confirmed that their Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Burton Albion will be at the Ricoh on Tuesday, September 4, (7.45pm).
COVENTRY City survived an early-season injury scare yesterday when X-rays confirmed that teenage talent Billy Daniels did not break his foot during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Yeovil.
The Bristol-born midfielder, who graduated from Gregor Rioch's Academy to sign professional terms this summer, limped off five minutes from the end at Huish Park and Sky Blues initially feared he had fractured a metatarsal.
But it has been confirmed that the problem is nothing worse than heavy bruising and he could face Sheffield United at the Ricoh Arena tonight along with full-back Jordan Clarke, who is confident of passing a morning fitness test on the knee he twisted on Saturday.
If Andy Thorn decides not to risk Daniels, Steve Jennings could make his competitive debut four days after becoming City's ninth signing of the summer.
The Sky Blues boss has to make one enforced change because of the hamstring injury that has sidelined John Fleck. Either Gary McSheffrey, a substitute at Yeovil, or Carl Baker will come in at the tip of the diamond in place of the young Scotsman, who was all set to sign for The Blades a year ago until registration red tape sabotaged his switch from Rangers at the 13th hour! “It's a blow losing a player of his quality so early in the season,“ admitted Thorn, “but these things happen and you just have to get on with it. This will be a big test for us against a team who are clear favourites for the title this season so it will be great if we can start like we finished at Yeovil because we got better as the game went on.“
Coventry's development squad lost 3-1 to their Blades counterparts at the Alan Higgs Centre yesterday.
Danny Philliskirk added a secondhalf opener to Erik Tonne's opener for the visitors but was denied a hat-trick when Shane Fagan saved his penalty while Shaun Jeffers notched a late consolation having earlier missed a penalty and hit the post.
City defenders Nathan Cameron and Cyrus Christie both came through the full 90 minutes as they continue their recovery from knee injuries.
“They've only been back in full training for a week and a bit so they've still got some way to go but it was good for them to get a game under their belts,“ said Thorn, who also played French centre-back William Edjenguélé for the first 45 minutes.
Thorn is not pursuing his interest in Hungarian striker Peter Poloskei, who spent a fortnight training with the club and played in a couple of their pre-season friendlies. “We had a good look at Peter and we did think of offering him a year's deal with perhaps a year's option but we decided that he didn't quite fit with us,“ said Thorn, who is still keen to bring in a loan striker from a Premier League club. City have confirmed that their Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Burton Albion will be at the Ricoh on Tuesday, September 4, (7.45pm).