Coventry City return to Championship action this weekend with a trip to Bristol City, a team who have made a similar start to the Sky Blues, who both sit mid-table and have taken 15 points from their first eleven games of the 2023/2024 season.
It’sa game where Mark Robins will be hoping to welcome Ben Sheaf back into his matchday squad to alleviate his current deficit in central midfield.
However, City’s star-in-waiting has been out for around six weeks with an adductor injury and will therefore be taken off the bench rather than reinserted directly into the starting line-up.
Itis also hoped that Liam Kelly is close to returning, but Saturday will likely come too soon for the skipper who replaced Sheaf.
WhenKelly limped off against Blackburn Rovers with a torn hamstring, the obvious choice was for the versatile Jamie Allen to abandon his more attacking role behind the forwards to provide emergency cover in a position to which he is no stranger and more than capable of doing so.
function correctly. effect.
Robins of course has another option in Joël Latibeaudiere, but has so far been reluctant to use the central defender outside of his recognized position for his club.
However, in the last match against Norwich, the manager used the Jamaican international for around 20 minutes, initially as a full-back before quickly (four minutes later to be precise) moving into midfield to replace Allen after his third start.
Eight days after returning to full fitness, he was running out of energy.Speaking about Latibeaudiere’s late performance, Robins later admitted that “…
he did pretty well there (defensive midfielder) and it’s good to see live against a good team when we have control and we know he can do the job.
“So it’s important.
Inthat case, this weekend would certainly be the perfect opportunity to give Swansea’s summer signing a chance early on and give Allen the opportunity to operate higher up where it is arguably more effective to an offensive point of view.
YasinAyari can play as a No.10, but watching Allen’s inspired performance at QPR, one would imagine him putting in another hugely influential performance after being rested for a few weeks during the international break.
Latibeaudiere has made some appearances in midfield for the national team in recent days, starting 45 minutes in the 4-1 win in Grenada and 79 minutes in the 3-2 win over Haiti last Friday (13 October).
of the new week (Monday, October 16), giving him the rest of the week to recover.
Withplenty of central defensive options at his disposal, the 22-year-old could be spared a one-off assignment which, if successful, could give the manager food for thought for the future.
Hecertainly has nothing to lose by trying and it would reaffirm Latibeaudiere as a valuable utility player who can slot into the middle of the park when needed.
